Kansas Coach Bill Self Returning For 24th Season

April 2, 2026 4:29 am

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is returning for a 24th season with the Jayhawks. The program released a statement Wednesday. That confirmed his return to a program where he has won 21 regular-season conference championships, reached four Final Fours and won two national championships. The Jayhawks fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They lost on a buzzer-beater to St. John’s and fellow Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Health has been an issue for Self in recent years. He had two stents inserted in 2023 and two more last year. He made a precautionary hospital trip earlier this year.

Tiger Woods Turns Down Ryder Cup Captain’s Job

April 2, 2026 4:28 am

Tiger Woods has formally turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy as he steps away from golf activities. And a Florida judge approved his motion to leave the country to seek treatment. These developments come a day after Woods entered a not guilty plea to suspicion of driving under the influence. His SUV clipped a trailer and flipped on its side last week near his home in Florida. Woods posted a statement Tuesday night saying he was stepping away indefinitely to focus on his health. His attorney, Douglas Duncan, said Woods needs comprehensive inpatient treatment that cannot be done safely in the United States.

Pirates Beat Reds; Cruz Homers Twice

March 31, 2026 4:28 am

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz homered twice and Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run shot as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-3. O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds went back-to-back in the second inning. Cruz finished with three hits and three RBIs. He also scored three times. The Reds were held hitless until Jose Trevino singled off reliever Hunter Barco with one out in the seventh. Pirates rookie starter Bubba Chandler tossed 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, but also walked six. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz hit consecutive homers off Barco to trim the Pirates’ lead to 6-3 in the eighth.Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was ejected in the eighth for arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker.

Penguins Roll Over Red Wings

April 1, 2026 4:30 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rickard Rakell, Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakov scored first-period goals as the Penguins raced past Detroit 5-1. Evgeni Malkin added an assist for his 1,399th career point in his return from an upper-body injury that forced him to miss four games. The Penguins remained in second place in the Metropolitan Division with the victory. Dylan Larkin scored his 30th of the season but Detroit’s postseason hopes took another hit following its fourth loss in five games.

Roger Goodell Has No Plans To Scrap Rooney Rule

April 1, 2026 4:32 am

PHOENIX (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law. Goodell was speaking on Tuesday at the end of the NFL league meetings. He acknowledged the changing political landscape for diversity initiatives in the U.S., but added that he didn’t believe there should be any legal issues with the league’s policy. Also on Tuesday, the NFL’s competition committee approved a one-year rule for the upcoming season that would allow the replay center in New York to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” in case of a work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association.

Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty To DUI

April 1, 2026 4:31 am

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods says he’ll step away and seek treatment after his SUV crash in Florida. Woods made his comments Tuesday, four days after the crash that led to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Woods pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in his driving under the influence case. The plea came hours after a sheriff’s report said he had pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment at the crash scene last week. I’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, he announced a leave after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando.

Pens Rally To Blast Islanders In Key Matchup

March 31, 2026 4:23 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Mantha had two goals and an assist, Rickard Rakell scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied to defeat the New York Islanders 8-3 in a crucial game in the competitive Eastern Conference playoff race. The Penguins trailed 3-1 midway through the second period before scoring four times in less than 6 1/2 minutes to take over. Their seventh goal on their 28th shot eight minutes into the third chased Ilya Sorokin, who was done in by porous defense in front of him. Pittsburgh with the regulation victory leapfrogged New York into second place in the Metropolitan Division, 90 points to 89.

Pirates Get Shutout In Cincinnati

March 31, 2026 4:24 am

CINCINNATI (AP) — Chase Burns allowed one hit in five innings for his first major league win, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Burns (1-0) walked three and struck out seven, including Jared Triolo with two on and two outs in the fourth. Conner Phillips retired three straight for his first career save. Elly De La Cruz singled leading off the fourth against Braxton Ashcraft (0-1) for the Reds but was thrown out trying to steal second. Sal Stewart walked, took third on a single by Eugenio Suárez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Spencer Steer. Suárez scored on a triple by Will Benson to cap the scoring in a third straight win for Cincinnati.

Report; NFL To Begin Hiring Replacement Officials

March 31, 2026 4:27 am

PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the conversations are private. The league and the NFL Referees Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024. The current CBA expires on May 31. The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the people said.

March Madness- Elite 8 Sunday/Monday

March 31, 2026 1:03 am

Survive & advance. The Men’s Basketball tournament Final Four is set–#1 Arizona will take on #1 Michigan, #2 UConn will play #3 Illinois on Saturday. Meanwhile the women moved to the Elite 8 round, with two spots decided Sunday–#1 UConn & #1 UCLA  both winning.  WJPA-AM (1450) is your home for the NCAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships, right through the finals next Sunday & Monday.

Monday, March 30
Women’s Elite 8 
#1 Texas > #2 Michigan, 77-41
#1 South Carolina > #3 TCU, 78-52

Sunday, March 29
Men’s Elite 8 
#1 Michigan > #6 Tennessee, 95-62
#2 UConn > #1 Duke, 73-72

Women’s Elite 8
#1 UConn > #6 Notre Dame, 70-52
#1 UCLA > #3 Duke, 70-58