MORRIS COUNTY – He authored landmark legislation known as “pass the trash,” signed into law in 2018, to keep sexual predators out of the classroom. Assemblyman Jay Webber wants to keep student athletes safe from predatory coaches.

On Thursday, the Assemblyman introduced a bill requiring anyone working with student athletes to undergo annual background checks.

“This isn’t the Saturday morning Little League of our childhood. This is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the push to discover the next Shohei Ohtani or Caitlin Clark. The increasing demand for coaches and trainers and the popularity of travel teams has created more opportunities for our athletes while at the same time increasing their chances of being exposed to harm,” Webber (R-Morris) said. “Sadly, men and women who want to harm children find ways to work with children. And the lack of regulation and oversight within many youth sports makes it an attractive opportunity for predators.”

The bill comes on the heels of an explosive NJ.com investigation published this week that found more than 100 coaches, trainers, and sports complex owners have been accused of sex crimes against minors, 57 of those happening since 2020. Many were able to exploit the lack of background checks or inaccurate, out-of-date offender databases to gain access to victims.

A lack of uniform state law has allowed problematic coaches to avoid scrutiny and continue operating in the coaching realm. Despite thousands of youth sports teams across more than 20 sports, requirements for coaches vary drastically from league to league. Some require stringent background checks while others have none at all. The investigation found that some coaches with formal criminal charges are not on these lists. Some are on the list but still actively coaching.

The state sex offender registry, created under Megan’s Law in 1994, does little to deter offenders or prevent sex crimes, according to a 2009 study cited in the investigation. Seventy-two percent of that law’s offenders don’t appear on the registry. Only 14 of the 118 coaches accused of sex crimes since 2015 are registered sex offenders online.

Webber, a father of eight and a volunteer baseball, softball, and basketball coach, said he’s glad the NJ.com investigation has brought this critical issue to light. 

“My children have been in every sport imaginable, and overall, sports have provided our kids with tremendous experiences and incredible opportunities.  Parents perform their due diligence to keep their kids safe while they enjoy youth sports, but the tools are broken,” Webber said. “My bill will create uniform mandates for criminal background checks and tough penalties to encourage compliance for all youth sports coaches, trainers, and anyone working with our young athletes to keep predators away.”

(RAPID CITY, S.D.)—The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, are teaming up with the YMCA of Rapid City to host their first-ever NHL STREET learn-to-play-hockey camp on Saturday, August 2^nd from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Members of the Rush organization and the local hockey community will be in attendance to run the clinic, which will feature hands-on instruction, skills stations, and scrimmages. Registration is open for all kids aged seven through 12, with no prior hockey experience required. All equipment will be provided, and you do not have to be a YMCA member to participate.

“The YMCA brings our youth together as a community to celebrate fun and wellness.” states Elaina Kempin, Marketing Director for the YMCA of Rapid City. “Our wonderful partnership with the Rapid City Rush helps us achieve our mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

Launched in 2023, NHL STREET is the official youth hockey league of the National Hockey League. It is designed to provide kids and their families with the best of what youth sports can be: having fun, staying active, making friends and creating great memories. This is the first NHL STREET initiative offered in the state of South Dakota.

“NHL STREET was created to bring the love of hockey to more kids in more communities—and this event is a great example of that mission in action,” said Savannah Green, Director of Community Relations and Social Engagement for the Rush. “When you combine the energy of the Rush with the reach of community organizations like the YMCA, you unlock something really powerful.”

The YMCA of Rapid City is located at 815 Kansas City St., Rapid City, SD 57701. Registration is $35 per child. All participants will take home a custom NHL STREET hockey jersey.

Sign up here: bit.ly/RushYNHLStreet80225

2025-26 Rapid City Rush season tickets and mini plans are on sale now! You can score the best deals on tickets and take advantage of exclusive perks, including season ticket holder-only events and discounts at the team store. Call the Rush office at 605-716-7825 or visit www.rapidcityrush.com to learn more and secure your seats today.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Western Mass News is learning how local summer camps are keeping kids cool.

We went to American International College’s Youth Football Camp Monday. The kids were having a great time out on the field despite the heat and the coaches were making sure the young athletes stayed safe and hydrated by bringing them inside every 45 minutes to cool down with athletic trainers on standby. We spoke with AIC’s football coach Dan Chipka Monday morning and not too long after we spoke, he let us know that once the wet bulb temperature hit 86% humidity, they brought the kids inside and moved the rest of the day’s activities into the gym.

Coach Chipka shared some of the other ways they were making sure the athletes stayed safe before it was time to head inside: “We’re taking consistent water breaks you know about every 15-20 minutes, we’re breaking under the shade tent for ice water and Powerade, we’re also going inside every hour, really every 45 minutes, and we’re mobilizing the troops into the gymnasium. I learned in the state of Ohio, when you get inclement weather and certainly here when you have the dramatic spikes in temperatures, your football clinic can turn into a basketball clinic really quick.”

If you’d like to sign up your youth football player for next year’s camp at AIC, Coach Chipka said sign-ups typically start a few months out during the springtime. A link to their website can be found HERE.

Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.

BATON ROUGE — Ablaze Youth Choir at United Christian Faith Ministries is redefining traditional Sunday morning worship. 

The group has more than 80 members in its choir, and they bring a different vibe to Sunday morning worship.

“When we come, we’re doing a remix, maybe music changes, but it’s all for the glory of God all in our own unique way,” said member Mark Ellis Jr.

By remixing traditional worship songs, Ablaze said they are drawing in a younger crowd and making church more appealing.

“We try to incorporate a lot of energy and just like have a fire for the Lord, and I think that’s really attractive to this generation and pulls them in,” said member Madelyn Ellis. “They want to get excited and dance in church and to sing and not feel ashamed.”

The youth choir performs every fourth Sunday of the month for the congregation, but they have spread their spirit beyond the church walls through social media.

Member Samarah Hayes said the faith-based content is not what typical teenagers would be posting on social media, but she’s proud of the work her group is doing.

“Being able to display that not being ashamed, being able to be up here and knowing that I’m putting my faith all in God,” Hayes said. 

Member Tre Alston said the group gets their creative ideas from God. 

“It’s a lot of just hearing from God, hearing from the Holy Spirit and that’s how we typically create our content. It’s the reason why it has so much influence,” said Alston.

Ablaze has gained social media attention for posting their performances and recently won the Black Christian Influencers Gen Z Influencer of the Year award. 

Group member Vuiron Carter said they have received a lot of positive reactions and even gained attention from Gospel artists like Tye Tribbet and Kirk Franklin.

“I just feel like it has been really good for our ministry and our choir as well because that allows more people to be drawn to this ministry that we’re doing,” Carter said. 

The group said it’s not just about praise and worship, but bringing people to know Christ. 

“This is not just worship, this is also evangelism. We’re also trying to reach the souls of the people who don’t in our generation,” said member Joshua Ricard Jr. 

Members said they hope to continue being a light and spreading the message to the youth to be “Ablaze” for Christ.

“You can live a Godly lifestyle and still have so much fun serving him so the faster and the younger you get it, the better,” Mark said.

The group will be releasing an album in July.

Jonny Evans is in advanced talks with Manchester United over a staff role that will tap into his knowledge of youth development.

United want to retain Evans at the club after he called time on his playing career and an agreement is in place for him to look after loans of emerging talents.

Evans, 37, returned to United in 2023 after eight years away and provided a meaningful contribution on the pitch, making 43 appearances, and also a telling impact around the club, offering advice to younger players and giving his insight into United’s heritage. On last summer’s pre-season tour in Los Angeles he spoke compellingly of staff members losing their jobs in the first round of redundancies.

But his football experience is seen as vital to keep at United, where he won three Premier League titles, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Club World Cup in his first spell. He rose through the ranks at United having first attended the club’s centre of excellence in Belfast aged nine, making his debut in September 2007 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

After leaving Old Trafford in 2015 to join West Bromwich Albion then Leicester City, Evans returned on a free transfer under Erik ten Hag, initially being paid the minimum wage due to being registered as a short-term employee.

United see Evans as a valuable asset for his character, professionalism and experience of winning trophies, and feel a role in bridging the pathway between academy and senior football suits him.

Les Parry, United’s loans manager, left the club last November to take a similar job at NEOM SC in Saudi Arabia and Evans is set to fill than vacancy. His job will be to identify appropriate clubs at which to place young players and then keep on top of their progress, offering support where needed.

In all, across his two stints at United, Evans played 241 games, scoring eight goals.

The move into a staff role officially brings to an end Evans’ 19-year playing career. He made 538 senior appearances for five clubs, winning the Championship with Sunderland in 2007, the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021, and the competition again with United in 2024.

He earned 107 caps for Northern Ireland, leading his nation to the round of 16 at Euro 2016 as captain. He was awarded an MBE in 2023. In all, across his two stints at United, Evans played 241 games, scoring eight goals.

(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Nik Needham gives instructions at his annual youth football camp Saturday. (PHOTOS: Adam Kunin, For OC Sports Zone).

Back in the early 2010s, NFL players Nik Needham (Cleveland Browns) and Jaylinn Hawkins (New England Patriots) donned the silver and gray for Buena Park High School. More than a decade later, the longtime friends still continue to give back to their community. 

On Saturday afternoon, youngsters from across the Southern California community gathered at Buena Park High School for the fourth annual youth football camp hosted by Needham and Hawkins.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Nik Needham and Jaylinn Hawkins (middle) with close friends Chris Lammons (far left) and Keith Smith (far right) at their annual youth football camp.

Nik Needham and Jaylinn Hawkins with campers and other coaches after the first session of their annual youth football camp.

NFL players (left to right) Chris Lammons, Jaylinn Hawkins and Nik Needham sign autographs after their youth football camp.

Nik Needham demonstrates a drill to campers at his youth football camp in Buena Park.

Jaylinn Hawkins speaks to campers after the first session of his youth football camp.

Nik Needham with his mother, Shannon, after their annual youth football camp.

More than 250 players attended the camp across the two sessions, with the first session being composed of third to eighth graders and the second session being comprised of high schoolers. The large turnout marked an improvement from previous years, as the camp continues to grow over time. 

“It was just a great day, Needham said. “Probably the best one yet.”

This was a big jump from last year. The next goal is to just outdo this year’s camp … But that was a pretty good one today, there’s not much I can do to top that.”

The campers competed in a series of individual drills, one-on-one repetitions and seven-on-seven situations, all while learning under the tutelage of various current and former NFL players who came out to help coach the camp.

Following each session, Needham, Hawkins and other players signed autographs, took pictures and handed out free merchandise to those in attendance.

Additionally, the event, which was free of charge, provided T-shirts, drinks and food to all campers. For Hawkins, keeping the event accessible to all was paramount. 

“It’s not about money,” Hawkins said. “It’s about kids coming out here and learning and getting the tools they need … to help them change or keep them on the right track,” Hawkins said. “I was once in their shoes and going to local camps with people who played in the NFL from the area. I just remember how much that stuck with me.”

With their largest group yet, Needham and Hawkins enjoyed watching young players from across the area compete against one another. They did their best to match the campers’ energy, even jumping in a bounce house with the players to celebrate a few interceptions in the seven-on-seven period – which Needham admitted was his favorite part of the day. 

“I lost my voice screaming all day,” Needham said. “The energy the kids brought today was a blast.”

Of course, the pair couldn’t put on the event alone. Many volunteers, former players and others helped organize and coach the camp. 

One of whom was Needham’s mother, Shannon, who played a major role in helping organize the day. She watched the two grow up together and remains proud of them for continuing to take an initiative in giving back to their community. 

“It warms my heart,” Shannon Needham said. “I’m so proud of these guys. They truly love giving back, and they love working with the youth, so it’s great to set a great example of what you can achieve when you just keep working hard.”

Video highlights

Check out interviews of Needham and Hawkins and highlights of Saturday’s camp by Adam Kunin on X (@ocportszone).