President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that in addition to the headline-grabbing UFC fight on the National Mall next year to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, a host of other events will also be scheduled, including a parade and an athletic competition for high school students.

“We will host the first-ever ‘Patriot Games,’ an unprecedented, four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said in a pre-recorded video shot from the Oval Office. “But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports.”

Trump said that a new nonpartisan organization called Freedom 250 would be responsible for hosting the events and coordinating with the federal agencies to deliver on events nationwide through 2026.

One of the main events will be “the first-ever Patriot Games,” which were first announced in July as part of a slate of anniversary celebrations championed by the Trump administration.

Critics of the Trump administration were quick to point out the plan mirrored the plot of the fictional “Hunger Games” series, which depicts teenage representatives from each district of a country who are forced to fight to the death in a televised event, as part of an annual celebration of their nation’s revolution.

In a post to X on Thursday, the national Democratic Party shared a clip from the movie along with a quote: “And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice.”

The Democratic governors of California and Illinois, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker, also reposted the White House’s announcement with clips from the film showing the country’s fictional dictator.

“May the odds be ever in your favor,” Newsom wrote, reprising the phrase told to young Hunger Games participants in the fictional series.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Democrats’ “Hunger Games” comparison.

In addition to the Patriot Games, one of Freedom 250’s planned initiatives is a full illumination of the Washington Monument between New Year’s Eve and Jan. 5, “marking the start of this once-in-a-generation anniversary year,” a press release reads.

Memorial Day will be celebrated with a “Spirit of America parade” and a “National Prayer Event on the National Mall will rededicate the nation as One Nation Under God.”

In June, Flag Day will be marked with a first-of-its-kind UFC event, and toward the end of month the National Mall will be converted into the “Great American State Fair” featuring pavilions from each state.

“The event will feature a spectacular flyover by our Nation’s Military, roaring over the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial,” reads a Thursday press release. “A major address by the President of the United States will precede Salute to America: The Nation’s 250th Birthday Fireworks Celebration — the largest fireworks display in the world, illuminating the Mall in a breathtaking finale.”

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – The Siouxland Sports Academy is planning to rock out at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during a benefit concert event.

The benefit concert featuring Above the Covers is expected to take place on Friday, Dec. 19.

“We are very excited to be able to host this event in this great facility with this great local band to raise money for kids in need. It is very important to us that we are able to provide opportunities to kids regardless of socioeconomic status,” said SSA Executive Director Dustin Cooper.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a silent auction and social. The band performs at 7:30 p.m.

The Siouxland Sports Academy says its organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to create opportunities for young people in Siouxland.

The nonprofit also says 100% of the proceeds in ticket sales and at the auction will go towards financing local youth sports scholarships.

“During the concert, there will be silent auction items up for grabs that include priceless autographed sports memorabilia, unbelievable sports experiences, and at intermission of the concert, a trip to Turks and Caicos will be live auctioned!” said Siouxland Sports Academy.

Tickets are available on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s website.

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Eau Claire has flagged down a major sporting event for 2026: the Pylon 7on7 Flag Football Tournament is heading to the Sonnentag Field House from March 14 to 15. 

The tournament — a traveling flag football tournament for high school athletes — is expected to welcome about 1,000 athletes, coaches, families and fans. Pylon 7on7 said it will welcome more than 30 teams to the Wisconsin-based event.

The Eau Claire tournament will be indoors.

Pylon 7on7 is a “critical exposure platform” for high schoolers looking to play football in college. Over the past 20 years, more than 3,000 student-athletes who have played in Pylon 7on7 committed to Division I programs. More than 300 players made it to the NFL.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Pylon 7on7 to Eau Claire,” said Lucas Connolly, sports relationship manager for Visit Eau Claire. “This event brings elite competition to our community and provides young athletes with a platform to compete, be seen, and develop, while highlighting the Sonnentag Center as a top-tier venue for national sporting events.”

Visit Eau Claire said it expects a positive, direct economic impact from the tournament.

“This tournament is another example of how Eau Claire continues to grow as a destination for youth sports, and we are excited to partner with Visit Eau Claire to welcome Pylon 7on7 Football and the many athletes, families, and visitors who will experience our community,” said Steve Kirk, Interim General Manager of the Sonnentag Center.

Eau Claire is just one site of more than two dozen Pylon 7on7 tournaments taking place from Jan. through May 2026. Nationals will take place in Indianapolis on May 30 and 31. 

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/Gray News) – Two children in Idaho are critically injured after a tree fell on them while they were waiting for the school bus.

The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office said high winds caused rotten trees to fall on power lines before collapsing on the children.

The kids, both under the age of 10, and an older sibling were waiting outside for their bus when the tree collapsed. According to the sheriff’s office, the older sibling was not injured.

Aaron Hudson, the Twin Falls fire deputy chief, told KTVB first responders had to first get the kids out from the tree and downed power lines before they could prepare them for transport.

The sheriff’s office said one of the children was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while the other was airlifted.

According to Hudson, the weather conditions caused difficulties during transport. He said that it prevented the helicopter from going any further than the local hospital.

The family of the children has started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.

Copyright 2025 KMVT via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

As youth sports participation costs rise and facility availability remains a bottleneck for growth, US-based 360 Hoops has announced a formal commercial rollout for 2026.

The company, which specialises in a patented three-basket hardware system and a proprietary 3v3v3 gameplay format, is positioning itself to address the primary pain point for facility operators: revenue density per square metre.

The pivot from prototype to national property follows a 2025 validation phase that included visibility on ESPN’s “The Ocho” and integration into US youth development programs.

By allowing five units to be deployed on a single standard basketball court, the system can support up to 60 active athletes simultaneously, a six-fold increase over traditional 5v5 training sessions.

Co-founder of 360 Hoops, Anthony Gomez, noted that the value proposition for club directors and private complexes hinges on this spatial efficiency.

“It really comes down to one question: how much value can you generate per square foot?” Gomez said.

The business model is built on vertical integration, combining high-margin unit sales with long-term revenue pathways including sanctioned tournament rights, licensing, and brand partnerships.

This “ecosystem” approach seeks to create a defensible category that insulates the brand from competitors—a tactic often seen in the rapid commercialisation of sports like pickleball and padel.

The organisation’s credibility is supported by the involvement of Mike Brey, an assistant coach for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who serves as an investor and advisor.

His presence suggests a focus on ensuring the technical skills developed in the 360-degree format are transferable to the traditional game, a necessity for long-term adoption by governing bodies and schools.

With a Year 1 target of 30 markets, the company plans to establish flagship complex partnerships before expanding into schools and community parks.

The non-stop 14-minute game format offers a high-density content opportunity that aligns with current trends in fast-paced, urban sports consumption.

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