Rob and Lauren Powers have found success as franchisees for basketball training concept Shoot 360. Their skills and passion for the brand led them to mutli-unit expansion in October, and they’re now in the process of turning around two struggling units in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Competition fuels athletes. The same can be said for many franchisees.

Rob and Lauren Powers fit the bill, letting the business model speak for itself when it comes to operating three units with basketball training concept Shoot 360.

“I think it’s important that the way we position ourselves in the market is we are not competition to anybody,” Lauren Powers said. “We never discourage anybody from going to other trainers … but nobody else has the NBA technology that we have to go with the great trainers. Truthfully, people can list themselves as competitors, but there’s really nothing that is direct comparison to what we offer.”

Shoot 360 offers basketball training facilities with high-level coaching and technology to develop players’ fundamentals and skills. The software developed for Shoot 360 is used by 28 NBA teams, and top names in the sport have invested in the concept since franchising began in 2019, including Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Trae Young, Zaza Pachulia and Thaddeus Young.

Related: Shoot 360 Digital Training Franchise Gamifies the Basketball Grind

After their children graduated high school, the Powerses signed with Shoot 360 in 2023, opening their first unit in a suburb of St. Louis in April 2024.

The choice to work in youth sports was made easier by the couple’s coaching backgrounds—Lauren Powers with volleyball and Rob Powers with basketball.

“The values they hold as a corporation and what they’re trying to do—positively impacting as many children as possible—really spoke to us. It’s something we’re most proud of in life,” Rob Powers said. “Obviously, we’re proud of our own children, but also we feel like we’ve been able to have a really good impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of other children as well through sports.”

The brand’s focus on player development over the competitive—and often toxic—world of basketball also drove the couple to Shoot 360 versus others in the youth sports segment.

“As players become better, the market gets kind of ruthless. Teams and programs try to steal players from each other and attract kids from other programs to come play for them. It just gets super competitive, and that’s not something we wanted to be a part of,” Rob Powers said. “What’s unique about Shoot 360 is we’re 100 percent focused on individual skill development, so any kid on any part of their journey can find a home where they feel loved and can improve their basketball game.”

The Powerses found early success with their first location, attracting 250 members in the first 90 days of operation. Developing a community presence made the difference; ahead of opening, the couple developed local relationships and hosted a VIP week inviting coaches and influential people in basketball to the facility for a tour and education on the tech-led offerings.

Their first unit has about 500 members today, with a slight variation in membership levels depending on the season.

Success with Shoot 360 led the couple to their next endeavor two months ago: acquiring two underperforming units in Frisco and Grapevine, Texas, suburbs in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

Unexpected life circumstances caused the previous owners to be less hands-on than needed, said Lauren Powers.

“There were no clear expectations of what each person needed to do in their job here as far as employees,” her husband added. “The facilities were not up to par either; everything from lighting to cleanliness to overall look and feel of the franchise was under what expectations were from corporate, and there just wasn’t a lot of energy and leadership and focus from the previous owners.”

The Powerses have led turnaround efforts by doing the dirty work—what they refer to as “servant leadership.” Upon acquiring the units, the Powers spent their first few days scraping gum and mopping floors.

Communication has been equally important, initiating one-on-one conversations with every employee to learn about their goals and Shoot 360 experiences so far all while providing clear expectations for the facilities’ next stage.

The Powerses have already established local relationships by partnering with local basketball leagues and those with connections to potential customers. Today, their Grapevine and Frisco units have about 215 and 345 members, respectively.

The couple looks to continue Dallas growth in addition to maintaining success in St. Louis, with the hopes of eventually becoming a training facility for franchisees.

The kids, however, remain first and foremost.

“We’re definitely looking to impact as many kids as we can through this,” Rob Powers said, “so we’re going to continue to ride the wave and look for new opportunities.”

Kansas and the Kansas City Chiefs have laid out the basic framework for a major public-private deal to build a new domed NFL stadium, team headquarters, practice facility and surrounding mixed-use development.

The agreement is a nonbinding term sheet and sets the rules of the road, including funding limits and responsibilities, while final contracts and approvals are still pending.

The centerpiece would be a new stadium in Wyandotte County, with additional development spread across Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

The project is split into two phases.

Phase one focuses on the stadium itself.

Plans call for a state-of-the-art domed facility with at least 65,000 seats, built near the I-70 and I-435 interchange.

The target opening date is Aug. 1, 2031, in time for the start of the NFL season.

The stadium is expected to cost about $3 billion.

Kansas would cover up to $1.8 billion, capped at 60 percent of the total, using STAR bonds backed by new sales tax revenue generated inside the stadium district.

The Chiefs would pay the remaining 40 percent and cover any cost overruns.

Public and private funds would be spent side by side throughout construction to maintain the 60-40 split.

A government or quasi-government entity would publicly own the stadium, while the Chiefs would operate it under a long-term agreement.

The team would pay annual rent starting at $7 million, with yearly increases tied to inflation.

The Chiefs would commit to playing all home games at the stadium for at least 30 years, with options to extend. S

trong non-relocation clauses are built in.

If the team tried to leave early, Kansas could seek repayment of public funds and bond-related costs, with penalties gradually declining after year 15 and disappearing by year 30.

A separate fund would be set up to handle repairs, maintenance and operations, supported by stadium rent and state sports wagering revenue.

Phase two involves at least $1 billion in additional stadium-related development.

That includes a new team headquarters and practice facility, estimated at up to $300 million, along with retail, restaurants, hotels, housing, entertainment, office space, medical facilities, parking and public spaces.

Kansas could contribute up to $975 million toward this second phase through a tiered STAR bond structure, with public participation ranging from 60 to 70 percent depending on how much is built.

Across both phases, total public funding would be capped at $2.775 billion.

The deal requires minimum investment levels in both Wyandotte and Johnson counties and enough sales-tax-generating development to support bond repayment.

Community benefits are also part of the package.

The Chiefs would be required to commit to charitable investments across Kansas, youth sports and wellness programs, local hiring efforts, and at least $3 million per year into a community impact fund.

The state would also receive limited access to the stadium for events like graduations and high school sports.

The agreement does not become final until several conditions are met.

Approval from the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council was required by Dec. 22, 2025.

Final contracts must be completed by Oct. 31, 2026, unless extended, and the NFL must sign off before construction can begin.

The Center for Youth Health & Wellness staff is seen outside the new center on the Escanaba campus in 2024. (Courtesy photo)

ESCANABA – The Center for Youth Health and Wellness opened its doors on the Bay College Escanaba Campus in fall 2024. The center has quickly become a vital resource for students and local youth ages 10-21, providing accessible, high-quality medical and mental health services in a welcoming, youth-focused environment.

The center has demonstrated strong community engagement and meaningful impact. Since opening in 2024, The center has served 1,045 unduplicated clients. These individuals visited The Center for a wide range of health and wellness needs, including medical visits, mental health visits, and annual wellness exams.

“We are thrilled by the positive response and the number of young people who are choosing to access care right here on campus through the center,” said Cindy Gallagher, Bay College vice president of Workforce Innovation and Strategic Partnerships. “This partnership with Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties ensures that students and community youth have the support they need to thrive academically, personally, and socially.”

Since the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, the center’s momentum has remained strong. In the first quarter alone, The center has provided 99 medical visits and 147 mental health visits.

Since its opening, the center has become a critical provider for the required high school sports physicals that allow youth to participate in high school sports. Kayla Coltson, family nurse practitioner at the center, shared that they have provided 755 sports physicals to area youth since August 2024.

These numbers reflect the continued and growing demand for accessible youth-focused health services in the region. The center’s integrated approach–combining medical care, mental health support, prevention services, and wellness education–helps empower young people to make informed decisions and build healthier futures.

“It’s clear that this collaboration is filling a critical gap in our community,” said Michael Snyder, health officer at Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties. “We are committed to providing quality services, reducing barriers and meeting the evolving needs of youth across Delta and Menominee counties.”

The Center for Youth Health and Wellness remains open to individuals ages 10-21, offering walk-in and scheduled appointments. Services include primary medical care, behavioral health counseling, vaccines, wellness visits, and health education–all provided in a confidential, inclusive, and supportive setting.

The center employs four staff, including a receptionist, a licensed mental health counselor, a registered nurse, and a nurse practitioner. The Center also has an active Advisory Board consisting of representatives from local K-12 partners, Delta-Schoolcraft ISD, Public Health, Bay College and local parents.

Funding for the center is provided through a grant awarded to Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, along with reimbursement from billing public and private insurance plans. No client between the ages of 10-21 will be denied care due to an inability to pay.

Bay College and Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties look forward to building on this strong foundation for years to come as we continue to serve the youth of our community.

For more information, visit the Center’s page at baycollege.edu, contact the Center for Youth Health and Wellness at 906-786-1672 or visit The Center’s Facebook page.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t condone the actions that led to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf’s two-game suspension by the NFL following an in-game altercation with a fan, but added Metcalf has his full support during the appeals process.

The league punished the two-time Pro Bowler by forcing him to sit out the first-place Steelers’ final two games and fining him for taking a swipe at Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy in the second quarter of what became Pittsburgh’s 29-24 victory.

Tomlin said Metcalf shared his side of the story with him, but declined to get into specifics.

“I won’t discuss what he and I discussed,” Tomlin said. “I think I’ve been pretty clear there.”

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson said on a podcast late Sunday night that Metcalf told him Kennedy used a racial slur and verbally disparaged Metcalf’s mother, an allegation that Kennedy denied through his attorneys on Monday.

Tomlin cited Metcalf’s appeal hearing and what he described as “legal ramifications,” though he did not define what those might be. An email to the attorneys representing Kennedy by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.

Metcalf remained in the game and finished with four receptions for 42 yards. Kennedy left his seat to meet with stadium security at Ford Field but was allowed to return.

Asked if the Steelers have any in-game protocols in place to try and mitigate interactions such as the one between Metcalf and Kennedy, Tomlin said, “We certainly may, but I might not be privy to it because my eyes and attention is (on) what’s going on on the field” and made it a point to credit the team’s “top notch security group.”

Tomlin would not elaborate on what his reaction was to seeing the video of the confrontation, though he acknowledged what he called the rise in “volatile rhetoric” in sports at all levels.

“Not only (in) our business, (but) college, youth sport parents,” he said. “I think it’s just a component of sport that’s developed and developed in a big way in recent years, and it’s unfortunate.”

There were reports that when Metcalf played for Seattle, he reported Kennedy to team personnel when the Seahawks visited Detroit. Tomlin did not speculate when asked if there’s anything more teams can do to protect players in those situations.

“Me speaking on it and speaking on it in detail and particularly expressing my opinion regarding things doesn’t help the circumstance in any way,” he said.

Metcalf’s suspension means Pittsburgh (9-6) will be without its top pass catcher as it tries to lock up the AFC North title on Sunday in Cleveland. His absence means Roman Wilson, who has been a healthy scratch the past two weeks as the Steelers have opted to go with experienced veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen, will likely get an opportunity to return to the lineup.

Tomlin did not rule out the return of star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who has missed each of the past two games while recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained during a dry needling treatment. Tomlin said Watt has been in the team facility lately and is “hopeful” Watt will be cleared to practice.

The Steelers need to win one of their final two games or have Baltimore lose one of its final two games to win a division title for the first time since 2020. The longtime rivals are scheduled to meet in Pittsburgh in Week 18.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

BARRINGTON — Championship. That’s what’s on the mind of the Barrington boys basketball team. 

And if the Eagles can play like they did in the second half on Monday, that’s definitely within reach.

The talent is there. The chemistry is unquestioned. Barrington is built to win a title this season and showed as much in the last two quarters against East Providence, turning a tied game into an 81-60 victory that shows exactly what this team is capable of.

The Churchill Community Coalition on Dec. 17 named Daylene Starr, left, Andy Lenon, Star Olsen and Dawn Blundell as 2025 Community Champions.

The Churchill Community Coalition recognized Dec. 17 Dawn Blundell, Sarah Lavy, Star Olsen, Andy Lenon and Daylene Starr as 2025 Community Champions for their contributions to building a better community.

Blundell serves as the senior pastor at Epworth United Methodist Church and the Wolf Center Community Services. During the recent disruption in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program she stepped up to organize meals, volunteers and food bank resources for affected families. She also facilitates a group for LGBTQ+ individuals called “The Rainbow Connection.”

Lavy also played a vital role in managing resources during the SNAP shutdown. She coordinates an annual coat and clothing drive, prepares Thanksgiving boxes and connects sponsors with struggling families for assistance at Christmas.

Olsen, co-owner of Bighorn ATV, currently serves as a board member and volunteer with the Fallon Theatre. She has also given her time to groups such as the Churchill County High School Grad Nite committee, local schools, Girl Scouts, kid ministry and youth athletic programs.

Oasis Academy Vice Principal Lenon was recognized for his dedication in connecting students with resources they need to succeed personally and academically. He is known as someone who the students and staff can depend on to have their best interests at heart.

Starr runs an in-home daycare while volunteering as the secretary of the Fallon Youth Football Board, ensures the snack bar is always fully stocked and performs administrative responsibilities.

The devoted sports mom also serves on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board with a key role in supporting the annual Battle Born Broncs Rodeo.