College Sports
Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman; One of them is stepping up
ENOLA — Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania isn’t even up for reelection until 2028, but already a one-time primary foe, former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, is crisscrossing Pennsylvania and social media, looking and sounding like he’s preparing to challenge Fetterman again. At town hall after town hall across Pennsylvania, Democrats and allied progressive […]

ENOLA — Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania isn’t even up for reelection until 2028, but already a one-time primary foe, former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, is crisscrossing Pennsylvania and social media, looking and sounding like he’s preparing to challenge Fetterman again.
At town hall after town hall across Pennsylvania, Democrats and allied progressive groups aren’t hearing from Fetterman in person — or Republicans who control Washington, for that matter.
But they are hearing from Lamb, a living reminder of the Democrat they could have elected instead of Fetterman. The former congressman has emerged as an in-demand town hall headliner, sometimes as a stand-in for Fetterman — who just might bash Fetterman.
“I thought I was going to play Senator Fetterman,” Lamb joked as he sat down in front of a central Pennsylvania crowd last Sunday.
Democrats are frustrated with Fetterman
Lamb’s reemergence comes at an in-between moment, roughly halfway through Fetterman’s six-year term, and is helping define the struggle facing Democrats in swing-state Pennsylvania.
There, Democrats figure prominently in their national effort to push back on President Donald Trump, but also in their struggle to figure out what to do about Fetterman, who is under fire from rank-and-file Democrats for being willing to cooperate with Trump.
Frustration with Fetterman has been on display on social media, at the massive “ No Kings ” rally in Philadelphia and among the Democratic Party’s faithful. The steering committee of the progressive organization Indivisible PA last month asked Fetterman to resign.
It’s quite a turnabout for the hoodies-and-shorts-wearing Fetterman, elected in 2022 with an everyman persona and irreverent wit, who was unafraid to challenge convention.
For some progressives, frustration with Fetterman began with his staunch support for Israel’s punishing war against Hamas in Gaza, an issue that divides Democrats.
It’s moved beyond that since Trump took office. Now, some are wondering why he’s — as they see it — kissing up to Trump, why he’s chastising fellow Democrats for their anti-Trump resistance and whether he’s even committed to their causes at all.
Most recently, they question his support for Trump’s bombing of Iran.
“It hurts,” said John Abbott, who attended Sunday’s event in suburban Harrisburg.
Speaking at the flagship “No Kings” rally in Philadelphia, Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg name-checked Fetterman.
“We’re looking to the leaders who will fight for us, because even today there are folks among the Democratic Party who think we should roll over and play dead,” Greenberg said. “Anyone seen John Fetterman here today?”
The crowd booed.
Why is Conor Lamb crisscrossing Pennsylvania again?
In Pittsburgh, progressives trying to land an in-person town hall with Fetterman or first-term Republican Sen. David McCormick noticed when the two senators advertised an event together at a downtown restaurant to celebrate the release of McCormick’s new book.
Progressive groups organized to protest it and — after it got moved to a private location with a private invite list — went ahead with their own town hall. They invited Lamb and a local Democratic state representative instead.
More invitations for Lamb started rolling in.
By his count, he’s now attended at least a dozen town halls and party events, easily clocking more than 2,000 miles to appear in small towns, small cities and suburbs, often in conservative areas.
“Showing up matters and it really does make a difference,” said Dana Kellerman, a Pittsburgh-based progressive organizer. “Is that going to matter to John Fetterman? I really don’t know. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t know if he’s always been this person or if he’s changed in the last two years.”
Fetterman has brushed off criticism, saying he’s a committed Democrat, insisting he was elected to engage with Republicans and — perhaps hypocritically — questioning why Democrats would criticize fellow Democrats.
At times, Fetterman has criticized Trump, questioning the move to “punch our allies in the mouth” with tariffs or the need for cuts to social-safety net programs in the GOP’s legislation to extend 2017’s tax cuts. Fetterman’s office didn’t respond to an inquiry about Lamb.
Is Conor Lamb running for Senate?
For his part, Lamb — a former U.S. Marine and federal prosecutor — says he isn’t running for anything right now, but he’ll do whatever he can to “stop this slide that we’re on toward a less democratic country and try to create one in which there’s more opportunity for people.”
To some Democrats, he sounds like a candidate.
“That he’s doing these town halls is a good indication that he’ll be running for something, so it’s a good thing,” said Janet Bargh, who attended the event in suburban Harrisburg.
Aside from the town halls, he spoke at the Unite for Veterans event on the National Mall. He has also been active on social media, doing local radio appearances and appearing on MSNBC, where he recently criticized the June 14 military parade ordered up by Trump.
Not long ago, it was hard to envision Lamb losing a race, ever.
In 2018, he won a heavily Trump-friendly congressional district in southwestern Pennsylvania in a special election. It was the center of the political universe that spring, drawing campaign visits by Trump and then-presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
Suddenly, Lamb was ascendant. Then he ran for Senate and lost handily — by more than two-to-one — to Fetterman in 2022’s primary.
People often ask Lamb if he’s going to challenge Fetterman again. Lamb said he reminds them that Fetterman has three years left in his term and pivots the conversation to what Democrats need to do to win elections in 2025 and 2026.
Still, Lamb is unafraid to criticize Fetterman publicly. And, he said, he’s a magnet for Democrats to air their unhappiness with Fetterman. What he hears, over and over, is frustration that Fetterman spends too much time attacking fellow Democrats and not enough time challenging Trump.
“And that is, I think, what’s driving the frustration more than any one particular issue,” Lamb said.
At the town hall, Lamb wasn’t afraid to admit he’d lost to Fetterman. But he turned it into an attack line.
“When I watch the person who beat me give up on every important issue that he campaigned on … the more I reasoned that the point of all of this in the first place is advocacy for what’s right and wrong,” Lamb told the crowd. “And advocacy for not just a particular party to win, but for the type of country where it matters if, when you stand up, you tell the truth.”
The crowd cheered.
College Sports
Sweet Amythist loves gymnastics, arts & crafts
Amythist is a smart, sweet, and creative young girl who enjoys a variety of fun activities. She loves gymnastics, dancing, music, riding her bike, and doing arts and crafts. She attends elementary school and enjoys being around her peers, especially during social or creative activities. Though she can be a bit shy at first, Amythist […]

Amythist is a smart, sweet, and creative young girl who enjoys a variety of fun activities.
She loves gymnastics, dancing, music, riding her bike, and doing arts and crafts. She attends elementary school and enjoys being around her peers, especially during social or creative activities. Though she can be a bit shy at first, Amythist opens up as she becomes more comfortable and shows a fun, caring personality.
She enjoys indulging in girly things and shares a special connection with her social worker over their shared love of Bath & Body Works products. Amythist thrives when she feels safe, supported, and encouraged to be herself.
Can I Adopt?
If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won’t have to pay any fees, adoption from foster care is completely free in Massachusetts.
The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you. These steps will help match you with a child or sibling group that your family will fit well with. To learn more about adoption from foster care visit www.mareinc.org. Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) can give you guidance and information on the adoption process.
Reach out today to find out all the ways you can help children and teens in foster care.
College Sports
Cole Hutson in ‘no rush’ to end college career but Capitals still plan to ‘put the push on’ and sign him after sophomore season
Cole Hutson is one of the top prospects in all of hockey and is headed back to college for his sophomore season at Boston University. The 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals made it to the 2025 National Championship game with the Terriers and is heading back to school to try to avenge the […]

Cole Hutson is one of the top prospects in all of hockey and is headed back to college for his sophomore season at Boston University. The 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals made it to the 2025 National Championship game with the Terriers and is heading back to school to try to avenge the team’s loss to Western Michigan.
The 19-year-old defender will be eligible to sign an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals after the season. However, he stated on Saturday at the end of Caps Development Camp that there is no guarantee he’ll be ready to do so next spring.
“Obviously, big reason I’m going back for school, I want to win a national championship,” Hutson said. “I want to graduate school, make my mom happy. I’m in no rush to go any place. You can’t get worse playing college hockey. Just going to enjoy the moment. If it’s two or three more years, I’m perfectly fine with that. So, just going to have fun and hopefully win maybe one or two national championships.”
Hutson finished his first year at BU as the top freshman in the nation, winning the 2025 Tim Taylor Award as NCAA Rookie of the Year and being the only freshman out of the 24 players selected to the East/West First and Second-Teams. He posted 48 points (14g, 34a) in 39 games, six more points than the next-best freshman and 22 more points than the next-best freshman defenseman.
While his sights seem firmly set on the NCAA for now, he admitted that it was exciting to be at his second development camp, building bonds with guys he could one day share a Capitals locker room with. He’s also previously shared the current Caps players he is most excited to one day play with, so his future with the team doesn’t sound uncertain.
“Yeah, I think it’s really cool, obviously, being here with draft picks and free agents,” Hutson said. “We have no idea who’s going to be a teammate in the future, and just building relationships before, hopefully, you make it to the pros. It’s good to get to know guys, build connections, and hopefully become teammates with them.”
Hutson’s 3-on-3 team won this year’s tournament at the camp, and he scored two goals in the championship victory against an opposition team that featured the highly talented Andrew Cristall. His performance throughout the five-day camp turned heads among the top Capitals brass.
“Yeah, I thought he was excellent,” general manager Chris Patrick said. “I thought he was at a different level. He certainly seems like a guy that is ready for the next step.”
The Capitals went through a similar process with top prospect Ryan Leonard last season. Leonard delivered 49 points (30g, 19a) in 37 games for Boston College during his sophomore season and then signed with the Caps once the Eagles were eliminated in the NCAA tournament.
Patrick sounded undeterred by Hutson’s assertion that he would be okay with playing longer in college than Leonard did.
“It feels like Leonard part two here,” Patrick said. “We’ll kind of give him space. I know he’s got some goals this year for what he wants to do at BU. And then once his season’s done, we’ll put the push on.”
“What I saw there this week, which really impressed me, was that we all know the skill and the skating ability, the stuff he does with Wendy, it looks easy for him. That’s not easy stuff,” Patrick added. “But to me, what I was impressed by was his competitiveness. Not just in that 3-on-3, but if he did a drill, he didn’t like the way he did it, he’s firing pucks down the other end of the ice. He wants everything to be perfect all the time. That kind of drive is a good trait to have for a guy that wants to be an NHLer.”
Hutson’s older brother, Lane Hutson, played just two seasons at BU before signing with the Montreal Canadiens. The 21-year-old rearguard won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year this past season, recording 66 points (6g, 60a) in 82 games.
Cole watched his brother take on the Capitals during the playoffs, wearing a Canadiens ugly Christmas sweater. He met with Caps head coach Spencer Carbery after Game 3 at the Bell Centre.
Hutson will also be eligible to play in the 2026 World Juniors for Team USA after winning gold last January at his first tournament and becoming the first defenseman in World Juniors history to lead in points. He could win back-to-back golds and then end the year signing with the Caps, just like Leonard did.
College Sports
Watch video highlights of Pacific Mini Games action in Palau so far
From the pool to the track and the ocean, the first six days of the Pacific Mini Games brought packed competition despite some disruption from wet weather. Sunday 6 July is a rest day for the games, so it’s a great chance for fans to relive the action so far with daily 30-minute video highlights […]

From the pool to the track and the ocean, the first six days of the Pacific Mini Games brought packed competition despite some disruption from wet weather.
Sunday 6 July is a rest day for the games, so it’s a great chance for fans to relive the action so far with daily 30-minute video highlights capturing the best moments, medal wins, and standout performances across every code.
Day 1
The Pacific Mini Games kicked off with events scheduled in swimming, wrestling, va’a, volleyball, and softball. Swimmers were set to race in heats across 10 events, while va’a crews lined up for V1 and V12 500m races.
Wrestling ran through more than 40 men’s freestyle bouts, and volleyball began with women’s pool games. Softball opened with three matchups, including hosts Palau playing the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Day 2
More codes joined the Games on Day Two, with medal rounds planned in swimming, va’a, wrestling, and archery. The pool hosted finals in nine races, including relays.
Va’a returned with V6 races and gold medal events while wrestling introduced Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle divisions. Archery and basketball 3×3 were added to the mix, and round robins continued in team sports.
Day 3
A full schedule was planned across nine sports. Swimming featured eight more races, while weightlifting awarded medals in lighter divisions. Archery match play continued, and beach wrestling made its first appearance.
The day also included va’a marathon races, table tennis, and more volleyball and softball. Beach volleyball pool play and basketball 3×3 gold medal games were also set.
Day 4
The Games picked up pace with events across over a dozen codes. Swimming scheduled finals in freestyle, long distance, and relays. Table tennis moved into medal rounds, including para and wheelchair events.
Weightlifting shifted to mid-weight classes, and archery prepared for finals – basketball 3×3 pool play wrapped up with gold medal matches, while other team sports continued.
Day 5
Track and field was set to feature the 10,000m and para-athletics, along with throws and relays. Va’a races covered 24km marathon distances. Swimming planned another round of medal events, and table tennis wrapped up women’s singles with men’s rounds starting.
Beach volleyball pool play continued, and weightlifting moved into heavier categories. Softball, volleyball, and archery also carried on.
Day 6
Athletics ran a full programme with 100m sprints, 800m, decathlon, heptathlon and para events on the schedule. The 5km open-water swims were scheduled for the morning, followed by a mixed relay.
Weightlifting held its final sessions in the heaviest divisions. Basketball 3×3 wrapped up with Oceania finals, while beach volleyball, softball and baseball all continued into later stages.
Medal Standings after Day 6

Medal Standings after Day 6 of the Pacific Mini Games 2025.
College Sports
MSU Hockey News – The Only Colors
As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn. Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became […]

As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn.
Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became one of only 4 schools to have a player drafted in the NFL, NHL, and NBA 2025 drafts. Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin were the other schools, making it a B1G exclusive club. Way to go, MSU athletes.
MSU had two future players drafted in the first round. Ryker Lee is an incoming freshman forward who was drafted No. 26 by the Nashville Predators. Mason West was drafted No. 29 by the Chicago Blackhawks who traded up to get the forward. West will be joining the Spartans for the 26-27 season. He’s a dual athlete who is also a quarterback and was recruited by some smaller D1 schools to play football. The bigger coup is that MSU took him right out of Minnesota to play hockey which has many Gopher fans upset.
Drafted No. 45 in round two was Eric Nilson, center. He just committed last month and has an NHL pedigree as he hopes to follow his father’s 10 year NHL career. Nilson will be playing for MSU this fall and was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks.
At No. 48, current Spartan Shane Vansaghi was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. We may be seeing Shane reunite on the ice one day with Karsen Dorwart who made his NHL debut with Philly in late March.
2026-27 incoming defenseman Brady Peddle went no. 91 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The final draft pick was Max Heise, a forward who will also be in East Lansing for the 26-27 season. He went at pick no. 150 to the San Jose Sharks.
There are a lot of NHL draft picks on the current and future rosters that just goes to prove that MSU Hockey is brewing something special for some years to come.
In some other hockey news, Gavin McKenna, everyone’s top pick in next year’s NHL Draft, visited East Lansing on Monday. He was in Happy Valley on Sunday and people have speculated that PSU is the favorite to land the generational talent. People should not be sleeping on Sparty. I think MSU has a real solid chance to land McKenna as MSU is locked and loaded for a run next season and McKenna could very well be a one and done. Pairing up with Lindstrom (who was his teammate with the Medicine Hat Tigers), Howard, and Augustine may just be too good to pass up. Not to mention, being coached by Nightingale and learning the team is greater than the individual may all be too enticing for the most growth and success to come out of one season. His decision could come over the weekend, so stay tuned.
Lastly, I want to congratulate former Spartan, Duncan Keith on his election to the NHL Hall of Fame. This writer here is a huge Blackhawks guy. Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios and Eddie Belfour were my hockey heroes growing up. So of course, I watched a lot of Blackhawk hockey during their title runs in the 2010’s. Duncan Keith was an essential part of those title runs. Showtime Patrick Kane and the consistent leadership of Jonathan Toews are what many will remember from those runs. Those cups would never be raised in Chicago without Keith and Seabrook defending. Keith was crazy durable, could lead a beautiful stretch pass, push the blue line and get back and play physical. Congrats to you! I love seeing the MSU to Chicago line continue with Levshunov and now West. Of course I’m still pulling for that trade with Tampa or for Howard to not sign and join the Hawks. I mean, I can dream right?
Enjoy the holiday weekend, stay cool, let’s sign McKenna, and Go Green!
College Sports
Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech
Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech Home » NCAA » Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech […]

The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and there is no shortage of highly-valued stars among the nation’s top teams. Name, Image and Likeness is paving the way for student athletes to build generational wealth before stepping foot on the field as a professional. And staying competitive in that space is critical […] The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and there is no shortage of highly-valued stars among the nation’s top teams. Name, Image and Likeness is paving the way for student athletes to build generational wealth before stepping foot on the field as a professional. And staying competitive in that space is critical for programs in building the depth for a College Football Playoff run and ultimately a national championship. Using ESPN’s post-spring Top 25 and On3 NIL valuations, here’s a look at each team’s leading player in NIL ahead of the upcoming season, excluding BYU, which has no available data. WAC to Rebrand to UAC, Add Five New Members in 2026 Polar is teasing a Whoop alternative without subscription Why Cosmetics are Making Up for Lost Time in Women’s Sports I loved the Whoop MG, but didn’t love the price: that’s why I’m excited about this mysterious new fitness band from a major Garmin rival Go Straight to Collective Bargaining (Part II) ✦ OnLabor Locked On Women's Basketball Alex Pereira responds to rumors of UFC heavyweight title fight with threatening message Women's Basketball Thanks Shannon LeBeauf for 14 Seasons Alabama Basketball Kyrie Irving's Mental Health Message
College Sports
Who has the highest NIL valuation on every preseason college football Top 25 team?