The American Heart Association and the Houston Texans provided Hands-Only CPR education to youth sports coaches to improve emergency outcomes

HOUSTON, JUNE 5, 2025 — The American Heart Association and Houston Texans gathered nearly 100 youth sports coaches from the Texans Showcase League, Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training on May 31 at the Houston Methodist Training Center. According to American Heart Association data, nearly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time.

 The American Heart Association reports that as many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, with nearly 40% being sports related. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

The training is part of the Texans’ commitment to improve bystander CPR and support the American Heart Association’s work to double the survival rates of cardiac arrest by 2030, the goal of Nation of Lifesavers™ movement. Each participating coach also received a CPR Anytime Kit to continue the CPR education with other coaches, parents and volunteers extending the education surrounding the youth sports teams. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

“We are delighted to work with the Houston Texans to help improve emergency outcomes by ensuring youth sports coaches know the lifesaving skill of CPR and AED use,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Each year, hundreds of thousands of cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals, and immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. That’s why we are committed to ensuring more people are trained, confident, and ready to act as a lifesaver in a cardiac emergency.”

The American Heart Association is the worldwide leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. With more people ready to perform CPR, the chance for a positive recovery increase for the community.

Compression-only CPR, known as Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

In 2023, the NFL launched The Smart Heart Sports Coalition in collaboration with founding members including the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, the American Heart Association and others. The coalition aims to advocate for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to help prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students.

Additional Resources:

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About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association: Linzy Cotaya; linzy.cotaya@heart.org

Houton Texans: Lindsey Fox; Lindsey.Fox@HoustonTexans.com, 346-646-2599

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Junior Babe Ruth baseball League in Port Angeles is off to a shining start this season thanks to a unique fundraising initiative and the support of local beverage distributor Peninsula Bottling Company.

Youth athletes recently traded their bats and gloves for brushes and hoses, taking on the task of washing Peninsula Bottling’s fleet of semi-trailers, an effort that netted them a significant donation from the beverage company.

The partnership highlights a creative approach to youth sports fundraising and underscores Peninsula Bottling’s commitment to the community. By offering their elbow grease to clean the large vehicles, the Junior Babe Ruth players not only earned funds for their league but also gained valuable experience in teamwork and community engagement.

“First of all, I want to thank [Peninsula Bottling owner] Harry Hinds for the generous opportunity to help our Olympic Junior Babe Ruth baseball league earn money. I’m very proud of our Local 155 team and the great job they did. It was a valuable lesson in giving back to the community and working together toward a common goal. In addition, thank you Coach Tyler Wickersham, Riley Shea and John Underwood,” Local 155 coach Mike Mudd.

“Supporting the youth in our community is incredibly important to us,” Hinds said. “The Junior Babe Ruth team approached us with a fantastic idea, and we were more than happy to contribute. It’s great to see these young athletes take the initiative and work together to achieve their goals.”

Father’s Day event

PORT ANGELES — The YMCA of Port Angeles invites families to celebrate Father’s Day in active, joyful style with a free community Father’s Day Field Day on June 16, at the YMCA at 302 S. Francis St. in Port Angeles.

Dads and kids can team up for classic games like basketball, pickleball, cornhole and three-legged races. After the games, families are encouraged to head across the street to Erickson Park for more fun and a “bring your own” picnic.

“This event is about strengthening family bonds and bringing our community together,” says Cort Mao, event coordinator at the YMCA of Port Angeles. “We want dads and kids to leave with smiles, a little sweat, and stories to tell.”

The event from noon to 2 p.m. is free and open to the community, but registration is required. To register, people can go online at www.tinyurl.com/FathersDayPA.

High belt testing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On Saturday and Sunday, White Crane Martial Arts Grandmaster Robert Nicholls of Port Angeles conducted high belt testing and instruction seminars at the Mountain Region headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The host of the event, Grandmaster Sterling Chase and Grandmaster Harris of Las Vegas, Nev., tested eight black belt candidates, with several black belts improving their level and one master, Ashon Britton, testing for seventh dan, becoming a certified Grandmaster. Also testing were a group of adaptive students who train despite various disabilities.

Peninsula Daily News

Members of the Local 155 Junior Babe Ruth team helped raised money for the team by washing a fleet of trucks belonging to Peninsula Bottling Company in Port Angeles.

Two proposed ballot initiatives targeting transgender youth are one step closer to a spot on the 2026 ballot.

A three-member panel of Colorado officials known as the Title Board approved the petitions Wednesday. After completing another technical procedure, proponents can begin gathering signatures in a bid to be on the ballot.

One initiative would require K-12 and colleges to restrict participation on school sports teams to the participant’s sex, “as determined by certain aspects of their biological reproductive system.” The other proposes banning gender affirming surgery for transgender people under the age of 18.

Similar measures were rejected for the ballot last year because the board ruled they were too broad, violating the single-subject rule, which must be clearly expressed in its title.

Under the first measure, Initiative 70, “Male and Female Participation in School Sports,” K-12 schools and colleges must designate sports teams as male, female or co-ed and only allow students to compete on a team of their “designated sex” that is listed at the time of the student’s birth.

It would effectively prevent transgender students from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. Second, it bans anyone or any organization from filing a complaint, opening an investigation, or “taking other adverse action” against a school for maintaining separate sports for females. Finally, it gives the Commissioner of Education the authority to enforce the initiative at K-12 schools.

The measure is proposed by Rich Guggenheim, legislative director of the Colorado chapter of Gays Against Groomers and Republican strategist Michele Austin.

The initiative’s legislative declaration states that the biological differences between males and females are “immutable” and “manifest prior to birth.” It argues that sex-specific sports teams reduce the risk of physical injury to female athletes, promote equality between the sexes and provide opportunities for female athletes to compete against their female peers rather than against male athletes.

Objections

On Wednesday, the board considered arguments from attorney Mark Grueskin, representing a registered elector, that the measure be rejected because it takes on more than a single subject, such as mandating sex-segregated sports teams, but also giving unlimited enforcement power to the Commissioner of Education.

He argued the measure contains “multiple hidden elements” and is problematic because there is no basis for determining an athlete’s sex.

“We know there are certain school districts and certain schools that are simply more conservative and certain districts that are more liberal,” said Grueskin. “There are going to be differences in terms of how this is applied and how it affects individual athletes … This will allow specific schools to do whatever they want without an appeal, without consequence, and without review.”

Attorney Scott Gesler, arguing for the proponents, said it’s not unusual that schools will have different procedures and different forms of proof.

“There is a law, this is a law,” he said. “It contains straightforward definitions and schools are required to follow the law.”

Opponents also argued the definitions of “male” and “female” are ambiguous and not readily understandable to most voters. The measure describes a female as “a person whose biological reproductive system is organized around the production of ova,” and a male is “a person whose biological reproductive system is organized around the production of sperm.”

Some Title Board members struggled over vagueness of the definitions, which one termed “anachronistic” and worried about “invasive, intrusive” examinations for a person presenting as female to determine whether their biological reproductive system is organized around the production of ova.

Gessler argued that a person’s sex could be determined through a cheek swab and DNA testing.

“So, you could swab a child’s mouth to determine whether they can if they appear to be female and they could produce eggs,” he said, adding that the question is not whether they can produce eggs but whether their reproductive system is “organized around the production of that.”

Title Board chair Theresa Conoly wanted to ensure the measure is clear to voters, which is “the benchmark of the single subject rule.”

A member of the public asked if the measure violates Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Conoly responded that the Title Board doesn’t rule on matters of constitutionality.

The other measure, Initiative 71, “Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors,” was approved on a 2 to 1 vote. It would prohibit surgery altering a minor’s biological sex characteristics and prohibit any health care professional or other person from “knowingly performing, prescribing, administering, or providing any surgery or related medical care on a minor for the purpose of altering the minor’s biological sex characteristics.”

It would also ban state or federal funds, Medicaid reimbursement or insurance coverage from being used to pay for the prohibited medical interventions.

The board’s decisions can be appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court.

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A number of different nonprofits in the Tyler and Longview area are looking to continue benefiting from the Texas Rangers Baseball and Softball Grant.

Tyler’s Miracle League offers inclusive baseball for young athletes

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The Texas Rangers Foundation is committed to supporting the growth of baseball and softball by providing children with the opportunity to play in organized leagues. The foundation has been providing grants to nonprofit baseball and softball programs since 2012, donating over $1,125,000 to more than 150 organizations. Programs which previously received a grant were located in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas.

The foundation has previously provided grants to several East Texas baseball and softball organizations, including the Tyler Miracle League, North Tyler Youth Baseball and Van Baseball and Softball.

Here’s what you need to know: Sahara dust is making its way to East Texas

Karin Morris, the Vice President of Community Impact for the Texas Rangers, spoke about how they have already seen an impact on children in East Texas after providing multiple grants in the Tyler and Longview areas. “We have seen those investments carry forth and get more kids playing baseball and softball,” Morris said.

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Organizations looking to apply for a grant have until June 27 at 6 p.m. To be eligible, organizations must provide baseball or softball to youths 18 years old or younger and must operate in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.

COLLEGE SAVINGS — Brooke County fourth grader Kyler Tamburin was selected as the winner of West Virginia’s SMART529 “Fund the Future” sweepstakes. Wednesday morning, state Treasurer Larry Pack was in Wellsburg to recognize him and present him with a mockup of a $15,000 check. Taking part in the presentation were, from left, state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, Pack, Kyler Tamburin, and his mother, Erica Tamburin. — Craig Howell

WELLSBURG — A Brooke County youth is getting a head start in saving for his college education, after being selected as the winner of a statewide sweepstakes offered through the West Virginia Treasurer’s Office.

Kyler Tamburin, who just completed his fourth-grade year at Brooke Intermediate North and will be attending Brooke Middle School in the fall, is the recipient of $15,000 through the SMART529 “Fund the Future” sweepstakes.

“I was really, really excited when I found out,” he said about learning he had won the sweepstakes, which had entries from more than 7,200 youth throughout West Virginia.

The money will be deposited into a SMART529 savings account, which will be available to Tamburin when he is ready to attend college.

West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack was in Wellsburg, Wednesday morning, to congratulate Tamburin and present him with a mock-up of a check in recognition of the award.

Tamburin, who noted his plans to eventually attend Penn State University to study engineering, as well as play football, said he is thinking about hanging the large check in his room.

Kyler’s mother, Erica Tamburin, said they were thankful and excited to be selected, explaining they learned of the contest through a social media post by one of the county’s school counselors.

“It was really simple to do,” she said of the application process.

Pack noted the SMART529 program was established many years ago by the West Virginia Legislature as a way to encourage families to save money to send their children to college. The program also offers an annual essay contest.

“Fund the Future” is in its second year, Pack noted, explaining the winner of the sweepstakes is selected through a random drawing.

“Thousands applied, and we basically pulled a name from a hat,” he said. “My office is happy to award Kyler and his family this money. As a father of six children, I know how important it is to save for higher education. My hope is our children will become the future leaders of our state. I would like to congratulate Kyler and applaud all of our West Virginia students who entered our sweepstakes this year.”

To be eligible for the sweepstakes, one has to be 17 years of age or younger, with the child and a parent or legal guardian residing in West Virginia. Only one entry per child is permitted, though multiple children in the same household may enter.

The explosion of popularity in U.S. women’s sports has led Major League Baseball to an obvious conclusion: It’s time to invest in softball so that it can eventually reap the financial rewards.

Unlike soccer, basketball and hockey however, baseball lacks a significant pipeline of amateur female talent in the United States. From an early age, girls are pushed out of baseball and into softball. Over the last few years, MLB has invested in softball development at the amateur level, but has not been involved in professional initiatives.

MLB’s reason for investing its time and money into youth baseball and softball has always been about building its future bottom line. When they get kids to have an emotional connection to what they call “diamond sports,” they hope that many of them turn out to be future season ticket holders.

Baseball’s popularity in America has become increasingly regionalized and the league has, in recent years, turned an intense focus toward finding new fans and finding new sources of revenue. So, when a longtime baseball executive took over a new professional softball league in April, it only took a few weeks for MLB to claim a significant piece of the action.

MLB has invested a roughly 20% stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), per two sources. The monetary amount is not public, but those sources indicated it is around eight figures. This isn’t a tepid, philanthropic donation to an up-and-coming professional league: It’s MLB watching the skyrocketing revenues in other women’s professional leagues and taking its best opportunity to get its cut.

MLB’s investment in the AUSL isn’t just because it’s the most established professional softball league in the United States right now. It’s because the AUSL is now run by Kim Ng, a longtime MLB executive and the league’s commissioner. It is Ng’s job to use the investment from MLB and increased fan interest in women’s sports to grow the league even further.

The AUSL operates four teams, which will travel around the country in 2025 before settling in home cities in 2026. Players are paid $45,000 to $75,000 for their 24-game seasons, and ESPN will carry 33 AUSL games this season.

“We had alignment with Athletes Unlimited in our conversations for more than a year,” Noah Garden, MLB’s deputy commissioner of business and media said in a statement to MSNBC. “After the dialogue began, Athletes Unlimited brought Kim on board, which just made the fit even better. We are putting meaningful resources behind this endeavor because a rising tide lifts all boats.”

The tide is indeed rising in women’s sports.

In 2024, the WNBA announced that it had set a record in league viewership, attendance and merchandise sales. The year-over-year increases reported by the WNBA — helped by the arrival of Caitlin Clark — are mind-boggling.

The United States Women’s Soccer Team continued to be more compelling than their male equivalent, winning an Olympic gold medal for the United States after the men’s team bombed out in the quarterfinals.

Then, in 2024, ESPN reported its most-watched regular-season season of college softball since 2015. The Women’s College World Series Finals attracted 2 million viewers, up 24 percent from 2023.

This year’s Women’s College World Series (WCWS) Finals begin on Wednesday, with a three-game championship series that will be broadcast on ESPN.

Investing in the AUSL is easier than MLB creating its own softball league, as the NBA did with the WNBA back in 1996. MLB’s confidence in this specific league comes from its deep relationship with its new commissioner.

Ng, 56, played softball while attending the University of Chicago. She weighed her career options after graduating, but saw few opportunities for herself in professional sports.

“I was really intrigued by getting into sports,” Ng said in an interview with MSNBC. “There weren’t too many models that were successful for women’s sports at the time. I didn’t think that I could be in men’s sports.”

To her surprise, Ng soon found herself climbing the ranks in various positions within MLB.

An early opportunity with the Chicago White Sox got her in the door. She then had a 30-year journey as a team executive (including for the New York Yankees). At times, she served as a high-ranking executive in MLB’s central office. Eventually, in 2020, she was hired by the Miami Marlins as their general manager — becoming the first woman in baseball’s 150-year-old history to hold that title.

Three years later, the Marlins intended to hire an executive above Ng, and she left the organization. She’d spent her entire career quietly working toward having a chance to run an MLB team. Almost as soon as she had finally arrived in that role, she was told she would be demoted to second-in-command.

Ng drifted away from baseball, and Athletes Unlimited saw its chance. She had held nearly every job imaginable in baseball front offices by that point in her career, and her reputation and experience would help get the AUSL off the ground.

Many of the most powerful people in MLB have been strong advocates for Ng throughout her career. Some are behind-the-scenes executives, but no one has been a bigger champion for Ng than Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre, who since hanging up his uniform after the 2010 season has worked in various capacities in MLB leadership. It would be difficult to find any executive whom MLB would trust more to lead a growing softball league.

Hiring Ng in April was a pivotal moment for the AUSL. Athletes Unlimited, which also operates a volleyball and basketball league, was formed in 2019. MLB had watched the league operate independently for over five years by the time it made its investment. During those five years, viewership and revenue in women’s sports has exploded.

By all metrics, women’s sports are on the rise. MLB watched the rocket launch in other sports, but has now chosen Ng and the AUSL to dig into the coffers of an untapped market. Baseball is taking a big bet on its women’s equivalent, trusting its own former executive to help it cash in.