By Don Rhodes II | The Birmingham Times

In recognition of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Brother Let’s Talk a Birmingham-based grassroots mental health initiative will unite professionals, community leaders, Divine Nine fraternity members, and residents on June 17 for an open conversation about Black men’s well-being, a movement that began nearly seven years ago.

A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. and the main program begins at 7 p.m.

“We are hosting this event specifically in the month of June to increase awareness about the importance of men’s mental health,” said Jacques Austin, co-founder of Brother Let’s Talk. “This is another opportunity to highlight the importance, to continue the conversation, and to provide the community with awareness and resources.”

Organizers say the program is designed to help men engage in open conversations about healing from past traumas, emotional struggles and challenges they face in today’s world.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Jay Barnett a former professional athlete, author, and licensed therapist known for his work Just Heal Bro, a mental health journal for men.

“Dr. Barnett is a perfect fit,” said Austin. “He’s a Black male therapist — something we don’t see often and he speaks from the perspective of a former athlete and a current counselor. His work helps men open up through journaling, which is a powerful therapeutic tool.”

Hosting this month’s event at the Birmingham Museum of Art was a deliberate choice to elevate the setting and bring mental health discussions into spaces of beauty and heritage, said Austin.

“We try to find locations that are spacious and highlight part of the beauty of Birmingham,” he said. “The museum represents history, culture, and is a great place for people to gather and have meaningful conversations.”

What began in 2017 as a one-time panel discussion among seven Black male mental health professionals has grown into a transformative movement. Yvas Witherspoon, assistant director and co-founder of Brother Let’s Talk, remembers its origin clearly:

“Seven of us working in mental health came together back in 2017, and all of us saw a need to reach out to Black men in a culturally relevant way,” Witherspoon said. “We saw firsthand how stigma and lack of culturally competent care were impacting our community.”

Jacques Austin, co-founder of Brother Let’s Talk: “This is another opportunity to highlight the importance, to continue the conversation, and to provide the community with awareness and resources.” (File)

Austin echoed that sentiment, adding: “We came together with the idea of having just one event. Our motto is to ‘stop the stigma and address the stress.’ We wanted to identify and dispel that stigma that Black men have regarding mental health.”

The first event drew over 100 attendees. “They were saying, ‘This was great. When can y’all do this again?’ That’s when our wheels started turning,” Austin said.

Since its inception, Brother Let’s Talk has evolved into more than just a one-time event. It now hosts Barbershop Talks — monthly men-only gatherings where participants discuss topics such as depression, anxiety, relationships, and grief in a judgment-free zone.

“The barbershop talks are held on the last Sunday of each month and focus on real-life issues,” said Austin. “We bring in licensed professionals, but we keep the space relaxed and familiar. The barbershop is a sacred space in Black culture.”

Witherspoon emphasized how important these casual spaces are for healing. “Barbershops, community centers, museums — these aren’t traditional therapy offices, but they are where Black men feel safe and seen,” he said.

For the first time members of the Divine Nine fraternities — Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta — historically Black Greek-letter organizations — will partner with Brothers Let’s Talk to strengthen the message and increase reach.

“We hadn’t done a community event specifically with the Divine Nine before,” Austin shared. “I’m a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and we have an initiative called Brother, You’re on My Mind, which also promotes mental health awareness.”

“This was a chance to bring the Divine Nine men together to talk about mental health awareness,” he continued. “Many of them are therapists, counselors, or simply passionate about mental wellness. It was the perfect collaboration.”

For both Austin and Witherspoon, the mission is personal.

“Some men come and just absorb the conversation. Others are eager to talk,” Austin said. “We’ve developed a small group of consistent attendees, and we hope that continues to grow.”

Witherspoon added: “If we can reach one man, that one man can impact a family. That family can impact a community. That’s how change happens — one man at a time.”

For more information, please visit www.brotherletstalk.com

Lincoln, Neb. — College sports may never look the same again. A federal judge has approved the settlement in House v. NCAA, clearing the way for colleges to directly pay student-athletes for the first time — a landmark shift in the landscape of college athletics.

NTV Sports Central podcast 3 breaks down what the ruling means nationally, and more specifically, what it could mean for Nebraska. Current Huskers stars like quarterback Dylan Raiola and volleyball standout Harper Murray are already benefiting from NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals. But with direct pay on the horizon, the system — and expectations — could shift dramatically.

That’s just one of several big stories this week in Nebraska athletics.

Gena Jorgenson made Husker swimming history at the 2025 Toyota National Championships, setting four new school records in a breakout performance.

On the wrestling mats, Nebraska secured a major transfer in AJ Ferrari, a former NCAA Champion, who brings elite credentials and firepower to the program.

On the football field, future Husker quarterback Trea Taylor, a Class of 2027 commit, turned heads at the Battle of the Boneyard 7-on-7 showcase. Taylor, who spent time with fans and current quarterback Dylan Raiola, continues to show maturity beyond his years — both on and off the field.

And finally, on the road again: the latest episode of Roaming with Randy takes viewers on a return trip to Runza, where the cheeseburger taste test is officially happening — all thanks to viewer feedback.

OXFORD, Miss. – After approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement, college athletics has entered a new era of revenue sharing with student-athletes, and Ole Miss is welcoming this significant step towards a stable future for the industry.
 
Finalized last Friday (June 6) by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, the landmark agreement resolved three antitrust lawsuits — House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA, and Carter v. NCAA. The settlement opens the door for schools to share up to $20.5 million annually with its student-athletes starting July 1, 2025. 
 
The $20.5 million will be made up of new scholarships and cash distributions, while student-athletes may continue receiving compensation for the use of their Name, Image and Likeness.
 
Additionally, the NCAA will distribute approximately $2.8 billion in back-pay damages over the next 10 years to current and former Division I athletes who competed since 2016, acknowledging their contributions to the revenue created for college athletics departments nationwide. 
 
“We are excited for this new chapter, which prioritizes the well-being and success of our student-athletes,” said Keith Carter, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. “This settlement not only provides unprecedented financial opportunities but also enhances support services, including mental health resources, nutrition programs and extended medical coverage, ensuring our athletes thrive both on and off the field.
 
“While the past few years have seen Ole Miss reach historic heights, we look forward to embracing a new model in college athletics and finding some much needed stability. More importantly, we are excited about the new opportunities afforded to our student-athletes. With a commitment to millions of dollars in new scholarships along with revenue sharing, our student-athletes will benefit in a variety of new ways.” 
 
In this new structure, The Grove Collective will remain a key partner for Ole Miss Athletics, providing a valuable channel for Rebel fans to connect with student-athletes through athlete-focused content, public appearances, special events and other fan opportunities. In addition, the Magnolia Sports Group, the corporate marketing agency of The Grove Collective, will help identify, solicit and source NIL opportunities for our student-athletes within the Ole Miss business community.
 
From a broader exposure standpoint, Ole Miss recently extended its agreement with Ole Miss Sports Properties and Learfield as the athletics department’s exclusive multimedia rightsholder. That unit will continue to leverage the program’s brand growth as well as the student-athletes’ celebrity to align with businesses of all sizes.
 
“As always, we will find new and innovative ways to compete and win at the highest level,” Carter said. “While it may look different moving forward, we are excited to expand our relationship with The Grove Collective and Magnolia Sports Group. Their partnership coupled with the extensive reach of Ole Miss Sports Properties and Learfield Impact NIL service should lead to countless marketing opportunities for our department and our student-athletes.
 
“The revenue generated by these groups comes in addition to the vitally important capital support of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, which continues to drive major gifts fundraising as well as tickets, parking and other gameday services. It’s only through these partners that we can provide the preeminent student-athlete experience that is a staple of our athletics culture.”
 
The establishment of the College Sports Commission, a new regulatory body, will oversee the enforcement of third-party NIL deals and revenue-sharing practices for student-athletes. The Commission, which is independent of the NCAA, will only enforce settlement-related rules and investigate any potential violations.
 
“We are committed to the new model and working with the new College Sports Commission,” Carter said. “While change can be challenging, we are prepared for the new era of intercollegiate athletics. 
 
“Ole Miss has never had a brighter future, due in large part to the unwavering support of our fans and donors. We couldn’t have reached this point without their passion, and we look forward to embarking on this journey together.”
 
Stay up to date with all the latest Ole Miss sports news and content this offseason! Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of Rebel Athletics, and we’ll drop the best Ole Miss stories, videos and social media content to your inbox.

Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank. The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel gameday content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.

(WBNG) — The Guthrie Clinic awarded $28,000 in community benefit grants to three local nonprofits working to transform lives across the region.

The grants will expand access to vital mental health services and recovery programs for community members in need.

The Abuse and Rape Crisis Center in Towanda, PA was awarded $20,000 to improve mental health care acsess for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Bradford Co.

Cortland ReUse was awarded $5,000 to expand its Restart Initiative. The initiative offers professional opportunities to those recovering from substance addictions.

Secure Better Living Inc. in Gorton, N.Y., was awarded $3,000 to strengthen its Pathways to Recovery program. This program addresses mental health and substance use disorders through peer support, guidance and resources in the Ithaca area.

Copyright 2025 WBNG. All rights reserved.

MUSKEGON, MI – It’s no surprise that Mia Clemence’s favorite subject in school is history because she’s spent the majority of her athletic career at Fremont High School rewriting its record book.

The senior standout for the Packers became her school’s all-time leading scorer in girls soccer this spring with more than 100 career goals and broke the school record in girls basketball for points scored in a game this past winter when she dropped 40 points in a win over Mason County Central.

“I didn’t even know I broke the career goals record until a few days later,” Clemence told MLive. “My coach texted me to congratulate me and I didn’t even realize it. That’s never really been my goal (to break records). I’m more focused on winning as a team because I’m a competitive person, but if we win games and I happen to break records along the way, that’s just a plus to the experience.”

During her athletic career at Fremont, Clemence has helped elevate the volleyball, basketball and girls soccer programs to new heights, including district championships in all three sports.

“We all want to win, and it makes it more fun when we do,” she added. “I think that’s why we’ve enjoyed playing soccer, basketball and volleyball these past few years. We started winning a lot more games, and that’s made us work a little harder because we want to keep that feeling going.”

Clemence will become a part of local history later this week, as the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame awards her the 2025 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

The senior standout for the Packers will join recent winners such as Ella Andree of Spring Lake and Abbi VanderKooi of Western Michigan Christian, as well as former local legends such as Sophia Wiard, Jordan Walker and Abby Cole.

“I feel very honored that I was picked for the (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) award,” she added. “I’m happy I won because I know there have been a lot of impressive people who have won it in the past and I appreciate the (Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame) committee for selecting me.”

Clemence was nominated by Fremont athletic director Dave Walls, who has witnessed first-hand the senior star’s selflessness on a daily basis both on and off the field of competition.

“Mia is a program changer, a school changer and a culture changer,” Walls said. “She’s an incredible athlete but the unseen work she does behind the scenes is what I believe sustains her excellence.

“Earlier this spring, we were struggling to find a ball boy or girl for our junior varsity soccer matches. During the first home JV game of the season, I was scanning the crowd from the press box and I heard a voice call out from the stands. It was Mia, who immediately volunteered to serve as ball girl for the match.

“I had to think to myself that this is our best athlete at our school and she’s stepping up to do something that few people will notice but is essential to keeping a program running. That’s just one of many examples of her leadership and impact.”

The senior standout for the Packers will attend Northern Michigan University this fall with plans to potentially walk on to the women’s soccer team with the Wildcats.

“I didn’t really know if I wanted to play college soccer at first,” she admitted. “At the end of last year, I realized that I didn’t want to be done playing yet, and I wanted to try and play at the college level. I know I started kind of late in the recruiting process, but I knew I needed to at least give it a shot.”

The Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame panel makes it its mission to shine a light on some of the top student-athletes in the area each academic school year with its Scholar-Athlete Award, which is presented at the Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony in June.

This year’s list of candidates is filled with record-breaking performers, state champions, and most importantly, impactful members of their communities.

Each school in the Muskegon area was requested to send in a male and female nomination for this year’s edition of the award. The Hall of Fame subcommittee then released its Top 5 finalists and ultimately chose a male and female winner.

The 38th annual Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Fricano’s Event Center in Muskegon. The event begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the ceremony slated to begin around 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are available online and can be purchased by clicking here.

Below are the female Scholar-Athlete Award nominees, including finalists and award winner for 2025.

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AWARD WINNER

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Mia Clemence, Fremont

Sports: Basketball (4), Soccer (4), Volleyball (4)

GPA: 3.8

Athletic honors/awards:

Basketball: All-State selection in 2025; all-region selection in 2025; 2-time all-conference selection; led Fremont to the back-to-back WMC Lakes Division conference championships in 2024-25; as well as district titles (2024-25) and a regional title berth in 2025; named MLive Muskegon Player of the Year in 2025; averaged 19.3 points per game; set school record for points scored in a single game (40); 3-pointers made in a season (64), and 3-pointers made in a career (100).

Soccer: 2-time All-State selection; 4-time all-conference selection; all-region selection in 2024; all-time leading scorer in school history (106); single-season school record holder for goals (40); led Fremont to its first district championship in 15 years in 2024 and netted a hat trick in her team’s game against Howard City Tri-County in the 2024 Division 3 regional semifinals.

Volleyball: 2-time all-conference selection; all-district selection in 2024; all-region selection in 2024; three-time district champion; regional finalist (2023); conference champion (2024); academic all-state; all-area selection (2024).

Academic honors/awards: National Honors Society member

Extracurricular activities: Member of the Newaygo County RESA

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FINALISTS

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Zoe Dull, Spring Lake

Sports: Golf (4), Basketball (2), Soccer (4)

GPA: 4.304

Athletic honors/awards:

GOLF: 2-time individual state runner-up; 2-time All-State selection; 1-time honorable mention all-state selection; 3-time team conference champion; 2-time individual conference champion; took individual medalist honors in 14 of 18 events as a senior, took runner-up in three others and finished fourth in the other event.

SOCCER: 2-year varsity player; member of the 2024 Division 2 state championship team; starting midfielder for the Lakers this spring.

Academic honors/awards: Full-ride scholarship to Central Michigan University for golf.

Extracurricular activities: National Honor Society, Rotary Interact, World Language Club, Travel Club, Girl Up club.

Future plans: Attending Central Michigan University with plans to major in Engineering.

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Navea Gauthier, Shelby

Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Tennis (2)

GPA: 3.53

Athletic honors/awards:

Volleyball: 4-time All-State selection; 4-time all-conference selection; 4-time all-region selection; JVA All-National team (twice); AAU All-American (three times); All-Area Selection (four times); All-Area Player of the Year (twice); MHSAA individual record holder for career kills; USA Volleyball National Development Program selection.

Academic honors/awards: National Honor Society Member; Academic Silver Medal (Magna Cum Laude).

Extracurricular activities: Three-year volunteer for Shelby’s fifth and sixth grade volleyball teams.

Future plans: She is currently attending Ohio State University as an early enrollee and is taking courses toward a Psychology degree and plans to work with kids and teens with mental health struggles upon graduation.

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Emma Herremans, Ravenna

Sports: Volleyball (4), Bowling (4), Softball (4)

GPA: 3.888

Athletic honors/awards:

SOFTBALL: 3-time all-state selection; team state semifinalist in 2023; 3-time all-conference selection; 3-time all-regional selection; 3-time team regional champion; 3-time all-district selection; 3-time team district champion; USSSA All-American team selection (2018); USA All-American Team selection (2020); High School FN Top 50 infielder; 3-time MLive Muskegon Player of the Year selection; 2-time CatchMark Player of the Year selection; listed 11 times in the MHSAA record book.

BOWLING: 2-time all-state selection; 2025 Division 4 team state champion; 3-time individual state qualifier; 3-time all-conference selection; individual regional champion in 2024; 3-time all-region selection; 4-time team regional champion.

VOLLEYBALL: All-conference selection in 2023

Academic honors/awards: 11-time academic all-conference selection; earned academic scholarship with Ferris State via WNF Provost’s Scholarship.

Extracurricular activities: National Honor Society Member; Vice President of the Class of 2025; President of the Executive Board of Student Council; Member of Trap Team; over 80 hours of community service.

Future plans: Emma plans to attend Ferris State University to further her academic and softball career. She plans to major in Human Biology. After Ferris, she plans on attending physical therapy school to become a physical therapist.

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Ava Pelton, Montague

Sports: Soccer (4), Wrestling (4), Golf (1)

GPA: 4.230

Athletic honors/awards:

WRESTLING: 2-time all-state wrestler; 114 career wins; first girls in Muskegon County to win 100 career matches.

SOCCER: 3-time all-conference selection

Academic honors/awards: Academic all-state for soccer and wrestling; 4-time West Michigan Conference Scholar Athlete award winner; 2-time DECCA state qualifier; National DECCA Qualifier.

Extracurricular activities: Volunteer with youth groups, youth sports

Future plans: Will attend Muskegon Community College to study education.

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NOMINEES

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Jollie Fellows, North Muskegon

Sports: Volleyball (4), Soccer (2)

GPA: 3.79

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Nadia Hill, Muskegon

Sports: Basketball (4), Track (4), Volleyball (2)

GPA: 3.5

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Lindsey Ladd, Muskegon Catholic Central

Sports: Volleyball (3), Basketball (3), Soccer (4)

GPA: 3.970

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Grace McDowell, Whitehall

Sports: Golf (4), Basketball (4), Tennis (4)

GPA: 4.159

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Nazalia Mendiola, Orchard View

Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Bowling (2), Soccer (4), Track (1)

GPA: 3.5

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Kennedy Mey, Hesperia

Sports: Cross country (4), Track (3), Wrestling (1), Basketball (1)

GPA: 3.57

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Lexie Nienhuis, Hart

Sports: Cross country (4), Competitive cheer (4), Track (4)

GPA: 4.05

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Jocee Pleune, Grant

Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Tennis (3)

GPA: 3.7

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Mady Snyder, Reeths-Puffer

Sports: Softball (4), Volleyball (4)

GPA: 4.302

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Gillian Sorrelle, Grand Haven

Sports: Soccer (4), Basketball (4)

GPA: 3.8

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Mayson Southland, Mona Shores

Sports: Golf (4), Basketball (2), Tennis (1), Lacrosse (1)

GPA: 3.54

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Kirsten VanOrman, Western Michigan Christian

Sports: Soccer (4), Basketball (4), Volleyball (1)

GPA: 3.959 (unweighted)

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Lila Volkers, Kent City

Sports: Cross Country (4), Basketball (4), Track (4), Soccer (4)

GPA: 4.04

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Gracie Willea, Oakridge

Sports: Volleyball (4), Softball (4)

GPA: 4.080

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(TNND) — Most Americans believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to play on teams that match their sex at birth, a new poll from Gallup found.

And Gallup found the public is less supportive of transgender athletes than they were several years ago.

Today, 69% of Americans believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to play on teams that match their birth gender.

Support for allowing people to play on teams based on their gender identity has dropped 10 percentage points over the last four years, standing now at 24%.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in early February aimed at barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sports.

Gallup noted that Trump has also signed executive orders eliminating federal recognition of gender identity, banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, and restricting access to gender-affirming health care for minors.

Peter Loge, the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, said transgender issues have become more prominent in the political discourse.

And Trump has become a leading voice in that discourse.

Loge said Trump has put transgender issues on the agenda, because he knows those are political winners for him.

Trump’s influence might be reflected in the Gallup survey data, which shows a more conservative trend toward the topic.

For example, just 9% of Republicans told Gallup that it’s morally acceptable for a person to change their gender.

Nearly a quarter of Republicans felt that way in 2021.

Overall, 40% of Americans said it’s morally acceptable for a person to change their gender, down six percentage points from four years earlier.

About seven in 10 Democrats said it was morally acceptable for a person to change their gender, up a few percentage points from 2021.

“It’s a culture war issue,” said Anne Whitesell, a political scientist at Miami University in Ohio who has studied gender and politics.

Whitesell said Republicans are united on transgender policy, while Democrats have found less consensus.

“The issue for Democrats is much thornier,” she said.

Whitesell said the political debate over transgender policies is a continuation of years of fighting about gay rights.

That fight was largely resolved when the Supreme Court decided same-sex marriage was legal in 2015, she said.

Just 1.3% of American adults identify as transgender, according to Gallup.

Loge said that makes transgender issues an easy target for Republicans.

Whitesell said transgender people aren’t a large voting bloc.

And a lot of voters don’t personally know a transgender person, so the political debates can become more symbolic than personal, both Loge and Whitesell said.

Loge said transgender issues, including sports participation, are complicated.

“It’s complicated medically. It’s complicated socially. It’s complicated in all sorts of ways. But ‘it’s complicated’ makes a terrible bumper sticker,” he said of the way the issue divides along political lines.

Trump’s order for his military transgender ban argued that “expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”

But a post-9/11 veterans group criticized the ban as targeting dedicated warriors “for the sake of scoring political points.”

And in the debate over transgender sports participation, a young woman who made headlines by taking a knee against a transgender competitor in a fencing bout told lawmakers that she felt “betrayed” and “unwelcome” in the sport she loved.

“That knee I took in protest was a cry for help and an act of desperation,” female fencer Stephanie Turner said in a congressional hearing last month.

Turner told lawmakers that biological males have an advantage with speed and power in her sport.

But in the same hearing, National Women’s Law Center CEO Fatima Goss Graves told lawmakers that transgender bans are discriminatory and, in her view, they hurt all women.

“As an expert in women’s rights in sports and in society, I want to be clear here: Transgender women do not pose a threat to women’s sports. Transgender women belong in sports,” Goss Graves said at the House hearing.

The Gallup poll found 90% of Republicans believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that match their birth sex.

That view was held by 72% of independents and 41% of Democrats.

Gallup also asked if people should be allowed to use the gender they identify with on government documents, such as a passport or driver’s license.

Two-thirds of Americans said people should be required to use their birth sex on government documents.

The vast majority of Republicans, 89%, and a minority of Democrats, 38%, said people should be required to use their birth sex on government documents.

More Americans viewed being transgender as a decision that was influenced by a person’s upbringing and environment rather than factors the person had from birth, the Gallup poll showed.

That view was held by half of Americans, with another 30% telling Gallup that people are born as transgender. The remaining share of people either said it’s both nature and nurture, it’s neither, or they didn’t have an opinion.

Most Republicans, 76%, told Gallup they think a person is transgender based on upbringing and environment, not from birth.