The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers…

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United are hopeful that Bruno Fernandes will return from injury before their clash with Manchester City on January 17, meaning the captain would miss only five matches – The Times.

Chelsea could have signed lifelong Blues fan Antoine Semenyo for just £2m six years ago – The Sun.

Antoine Semenyo’s release clause at Bournemouth is only active for the first 10 days of the January transfer window – BBC.

Roma want to sign Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan – BBC.

Manchester United are set to appoint Newcastle’s head of youth recruitment Paul Midgley to the same role at Old Trafford – Daily Mail.

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Robert Lewandowski will sit down with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick at the beginning of 2026 to discuss his future – Sport.

Monaco will not convert Ansu Fati’s loan move from Barcelona into a permanent deal – El Nacional.

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Celtic goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi is attracting interest from clubs in England and Europe – The Scottish Sun.

Hearts are set to sign defender Jordi Altena is set to be their first January signing after beating off competition from the MLS – The Scottish Sun.

(Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

CHARLESTON — Westbrook Health Services in Parkersburg was awarded two of 76 grants announced Tuesday from the West Virginia First Foundation.
The WVFF named the recipients of the Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG), which is nearly $18 million, to support high-impact initiatives addressing substance use disorder, prevention, recovery, and workforce and system capacity across West Virginia, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
WVFF Grant Awards
Approved by the WVFF Board of Directors earlier this month, MIG represents a landmark opioid abatement investment and reflects a revolutionary, nationally distinctive model for stewarding settlement dollars, one that combines objective evaluation and local expertise. Funding was awarded to 76 projects spanning statewide and regional target areas, reflecting both community-driven priorities and statewide needs.
Wood County is a part of District 3 within the WVFF which also includes Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Roane and Jackson counties.
Westbrook Health Services received a $125,000 grant focusing on Youth Prevention through the Westbrook Health Services Thrive Together Project and a $250,000 grant focused on the Westbrook Health Services Workforce Development Project to help with Behavioral Health & Workforce Development.
Other recipients in Region 3 include: $224,000 to Hope House Ministries Inc. for Recovery Housing; $58,329 to TEAM for West Virginia Children Inc. for Youth Prevention; and $113,554 to The Bomar Club Inc. for its On the Road to Success: Expanded Wraparound and Reentry Services as part of its Day Report Centers & Reentry Programs.
There were four statewide awards given to help with foster care and non-parental caregivers. Those awards include: $954,469.45 to the National Youth Advocate Program Inc. for the Foster RISE (Recruitment, Intervention, Support and Expansion) program; $974,751 to Pressley Ridge for the Pressley Ridge Treatment Kinship Care Statewide Services program; $975,000 to the West Virginia CASA Association Inc. for its Continuum of Care for Children & Families Impacted by the Opioid Crisis program; and $947,916 to West Virginia Wesleyan College for its WVWC & WV CASA Capacity Building Initiative program.
MIG investments will support a broad range of efforts, including foster care and non-parental caregiver initiatives, youth prevention, recovery housing, behavioral health and workforce development, and reentry and diversion programs, the press release said. Collectively, these investments are designed to strengthen systems of care, expand access to services, and promote long-term, sustainable impact for West Virginians, the release added.
“We were intentional in building a structure that reflects both feedback and best practices,” said Greg Duckworth, WVFF Board Chairman. “What emerged is a landmark opioid abatement model, distinct from any other foundation of its kind, made possible by volunteer board members and expert panelists dedicated to serving West Virginia.” To support consistency and objectivity, the WVFF review process followed a structured, multi-step approach, the press release stated. This first-of-its-kind model engaged local expert panelists, statewide leaders in their fields, neutral and objective data-driven specialists, and the full Board of Directors (both locally-elected and appointed). Independent, outcomes-based scoring was conducted and focused on program design, feasibility, and potential impact, the release said.
“The Momentum Initiative Grant reflects a new way of responding to the substance use crisis; one grounded in evidence, shaped by local expertise, and guided by accountability,” said Jonathan Board, WVFF Executive Director. “We traveled the state, listened to those holding the line in their communities, and answered the call to honor the lives lost by putting these resources into the hands of those ready to create real, lasting impact for West Virginia.”
For more information about the Momentum Initiative Grant, visit wvfirst.org/MIG.

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Boys Basketball team’s next game is on the road against the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 2, followed by a return to the home gym on Monday, January 5 against Falmouth Academy at 5 p.m.

• The Girls Varsity Basketball team is 0-3 on the season after falling to the Carver Crusaders, 59-29, on Friday, December 19. Gianna Thorne scored 10 points, while Addison Littlefield had 6 points and 5 rebounds, and Bella Walsh scored 6 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots. During the holiday break, the team will play in the Scituate Holiday Tournament on Tuesday, December 30 at 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 31 at 11 a.m., then travels to the New Heights Charter School in Brockton on Monday, January 5 at 4:30 p.m.

• The Cohasset-Hull Cooperative Hockey team’s next games will be on Saturday, January 3 against Boston Latin Academy. Puck drops at 4 p.m. The team then heads down the Cape to take on Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School at the Tony Kent Arena in South Dennis on Monday, January 5 at 6 p.m.

• The Hingham-Hull Cooperative Gymnastics squad is 1-0 on the season, winning its opening matchup over Marshfield, 130.4 to 121.3, on December 19. The next competition will be against Whitman-Hanson Regional High School at the Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Hingham on Wednesday, January 7 at 8 p.m.

• The next meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be against Carver on Monday, January 5 at 4 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

• For the full schedule for each Hull High team, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• Registration is under way for Hull Pirates In-Town Youth Basketball. Programs include a skills and drills co-ed session for grades 1 and 2, a co-ed program for grades 3 and 4, as well as an open gym program (also co-ed) for grades 5-8. The season runs from January 10-March 14 on Saturdays at the Jacobs School gym. For more information, visit http://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com/camps.

• A combined Girls 3/4 travel basketball team is on the court this season, competing at the fourth-grade level, and has a record of 1-2. The team’s most recent game was a 36-5 loss to Weymouth on Saturday. Next up is Hingham on Sunday, January 4 at 3 p.m. All games are played at Indian Head Elementary School in Hanson, so fans have to travel to take in a game. The full schedule of game times and weekly opponents is at this link: www.oldcolonybasketball.org/team/hull/4/1.

• Registration is open for Hull Youth Lacrosse – two travel teams and the in-town programs – through January 22. For more information, visit www.hulllax.com or email hullyouthlax@gmail.com if you have any questions.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

Maribeth Miller Browne passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 18, 2025, at Kobacker House in Columbus, Ohio. On Thursday evening before her passing, her entire family gathered around her, and the room was filled with love and peace. Her husband fell asleep holding her hand, and she slipped away quietly before midnight—surrounded by love, comfort, and care.

Maribeth faced large B-cell plasmablastic lymphoma with courage and resolve. In her final weeks, her fight was reignited with the news that her family would be growing in early 2026 with the addition of her second grandchild. Though the illness ultimately claimed her life, hope never left her, and it spoke to the deep devotion she carried for her family until the very end.

Born in Connecticut, on November 6, 1960, Maribeth spent part of her childhood in Rochester, New York, before eventually making her way to Marietta, Ohio—where her roots ran deep and where she truly found home. When her family first moved to Marietta in 1968, they lived for several months at The Lafayette Hotel while searching for a permanent home. During that time, the restaurant staff there lovingly made her lunches for school, a small kindness she remembered fondly.

Maribeth was the eldest daughter of five children and carried that role with strength and responsibility. She was preceded in death by her father, John Miller—who co-founded the Marietta Girls Youth Basketball League in 1973; her mother, Carol Miller—who played a pivotal role in bringing Montessori education to St. Mary’s School in Marietta; and her beloved sister, Laura Jeanne Miller. Surviving siblings are Andrew Miller, Susan Baker, and David Miller.

Maribeth shared a devoted and enduring 39-year marriage with her husband, David Browne, whom she married on October 11, 1986. The two met while working summer jobs at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH in 1980 between college years at Bowling Green State University. Maribeth had never been to Cedar Point and only attended the on-campus interviews after tagging along with her sorority sisters—she was the only one not hoping to get a job. True to form, she was the only one who received an offer, a testament to her bubbly personality and unmistakable can-do spirit. Cedar Point would remain a meaningful place throughout their lives. Maribeth and David later enjoyed many summer trips there with their children, and both Kyle and Abby would go on to work there themselves during summers of their college years. Cedar Point will always hold a special place in the Browne family’s heart.

A devout Catholic, Maribeth’s faith was a guiding force throughout her life. She was a longtime and dedicated member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marietta and often attended multiple services each week, both there and at other parishes in the area. Her days were frequently accompanied by the sound of EWTN radio, which she listened to faithfully and drew comfort from. Her belief was not only practiced, but lived—through kindness, service, perseverance, and love.

Chances are, if you’ve walked through downtown Marietta, you’ve met Maribeth. Some people lovingly called her “Maribeth of Marietta.” She was known for her warmth, excitement, and the way she made people feel seen and cared for without asking for recognition in return. Maribeth was a great friend, especially to those who needed one, and dedicated much of her life to caring deeply for those who were lonely.

Maribeth is survived by her devoted husband, David Browne, and the family she cherished so deeply: her children – Chelsea Browne (fiancé, Kyle Boker); Kyle Browne; and Abby Browne (partner, Caleb Brown). She adored her granddaughter, Alessandra “Ali” Browne, and was joyfully anticipating the arrival of her second grandchild, a grandson, in 2026.

Arrangements for visitation at Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, as well as a Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, will be scheduled for early 2026.

The family wishes to express profound gratitude to the staff at Kobacker House. Their compassion, professionalism, and humanity made an immeasurable difference, providing comfort not only to Maribeth, but to all who loved her during her final days.

Maribeth’s legacy lives on in her family, in the countless lives she touched, and in the enduring kindness and exuberant zest for life she carried with her everywhere she went.

CAWLEY & PEOPLES FUNERAL HOME OF MARIETTA is honored to serve the Browne family and offers online condolences as well as many other resources by visiting www.CawleyandPeoples.com or by following their Facebook page.

See an error in our reporting? Send us an email by clicking here!

Copyright 2025 WTAP. All rights reserved.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is supportive of D.K. Metcalf after the receiver received a two-game suspension but said he doesn’t condone his actions during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Metcalf was punished by the league after swiping at a fan in the stands in Detroit in the second quarter of the Steelers’ 29-24 victory over the Lions. The NFL said the suspension was for “conduct detrimental to the league.”

“He did explain to me why he did what he did, and I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support D.K.,” Tomlin said during a press conference on Tuesday. “And I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you.”

Metcalf reported this same fan to security last season when he was a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was scheduled to have an appeals hearing on Tuesday, according to Tomlin.

“I certainly don’t want to weigh in prior to that,” said Tomlin, “and certainly I’ve heard more recently that there might be legal ramifications, and so I better be careful about what I say and how I say it. I’m sure you guys got a lot of questions. I understand that, but that’s just a posture I’m in as I sit here today with so many components of this thing yet to be resolved.”

Metcalf was spotted talking to the fan, who was sporting a blue wig and hanging over the first-row railing. The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver grabbed the man by his shirt to move him closer before throwing a right hand toward the fan’s face.

Metcalf did not appear to make much contact with the fan, who threw his hands up in a defensive posture.

Tomlin also touched on this era’s dynamic of rowdy sporting environments.

“You know, I just think volatile rhetoric is a component of our business today, unfortunately,” Tomlin said. “It just is. But not only our business — college, youth-sport parents. … 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. But, really, I have nothing to say about the matter other than that.”

Metcalf, 28, has 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games during his first season with the Steelers. He also has two carries for 12 yards and a score.

A second-round pick of Seattle in the 2019 NFL Draft, Metcalf has 497 catches for 7,174 yards and 54 touchdowns in 112 career games with the Seahawks and Steelers.