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Sunday, May 10, 2026

Pedro Pascal Proves, Two Times Over, That the V-Neck Is Cool Again

May 10, 2026
Pedro Pascal Proves, Two Times Over, That the V-Neck Is Cool Again

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Harper's Bazaar

In 2026,the V-neckhas made a roaring comeback. While it was once considered the uniform of emo boy bands and Brooklyn hipsters, the silhouette has gotten a much-needed rebranding thanks to recent collections from the likes of Chanel, Prada, Dior, and more—where plunging sweaters and angular tops reigned supreme.

Now, here to solidify the V-neck’s resurgence is none other thanPedro Pascal, a man who shakes up the red carpet at every turn, whether it’s with a pair ofkinky, thigh-high leather bootsor apolitically-charged T-shirtthat honorshis sister.

On Thursday evening, the Emmy nominee walked the black carpet in London, at a fan event for his newStar Warsfilm,The Mandalorian and Grogu. There, Pascal wore a custom look from Chanel by Matthieu Blazy, which was styled by his frequent outfit architect,Jamie Mizrahi.

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For this occasion, one V-neck just wasn’t enough; Pascal wore two tops layered on top of each other, in shades of gray and butter yellow. For a dressy finish, the actor wore a navy single-breasted blazer left hanging open to reveal his low-cut sweaters underneath, with dark-blue slacks to match.

As a wink to the color scheme of his outfit, Pascal was draped in aMedallions Long Guard Lapis & Diamond 30”necklace from Jessica McCormack, which featured Lapis Lazuli beads interspersed with white and yellow gold diamonds, perfectly tying the whole ensemble together.

Finally, he accessorized with some black eyeglasses and inky loafers, both courtesy of Chanel as well.

It seems that this spring, everyone is doubling down on all the hottest trends, whether that’sdouble belts,double shirts, and now, double V-necks.

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Florida's new anti-DEI law prompts local government review

May 10, 2026
Florida's new anti-DEI law prompts local government review

Diversity, equity and inclusion are taking the spotlight at the upcoming commission meetings for both Leon County and the city of Tallahassee thanks to a new state law cracking down on local government DEI initiatives.

USA TODAY

The governor signed into law (SB 1134) a measure that will get rid ofdiversity, equity and inclusion programsin counties and municipalities, another step in state GOP leaders' efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives statewide. The measure also prohibits local governments from funding or passing a resolution in support of programs deemed diverse or inclusive.

The law won't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2027, but both the county and city are looking to get ahead of the curve by combing through their ordinances and programs, even potentially bringing an end to the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality's (OEV) Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Division.

The city is scheduled to meet on May 13, the county on May 12 and both have a handful of DEI items set to take center stage.

City looking to comb through ordinances and more to check for compliance

As part of the city commission's agenda regarding policy formation, city staff are asking the commission to vote to allow staff to "to conduct a comprehensive review of all city ordinances, resolutions, policies, programs, events, sponsorships, grants, and contracts to identify any that may be affected by SB 1134."

City staff already have identified a number of categories they believe could be in peril:

  • City‑sponsored or funded programs, trainings, initiatives, or communications that expressly reference DEI or that expressly seek to affect participation or outcomes based on the characteristics referenced in the statute

  • City sponsorship of or support for certain community events and celebrations that could be characterized as DEI‑focused

  • Economic development support programs that use classifications tied to protected characteristics, as distinguished from race‑neutral, generally applicable criteria such as income, geography, or small‑business status

  • Contracts with and grants awarded to providers who exclusively serve a population based on the characteristics defined in the statute (e.g., CHSP recipients);

  • Ordinances, resolutions, and administrative policies that contain DEI‑specific language or directives, or that adopt goals or metrics explicitly framed in DEI terms (e.g., Fair Housing ordinance).

County to take up reparations charter amendment

Leon County commissioners are set to take up theircontroversial DEI charter amendmentwhich has been an uphill battle for the group.

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At their April 14 meeting, commissioners voted 6–1, with Commissioner Brian Welch dissenting, for staff to bring back yet another agenda item focused on righting longstanding historical wrongs, but that is focused on all people rather than a specific race or demographic. Staff started entirely from scratch on a version that was "state legislative proof," that is, able to withstand new anti-DEI laws.

At their March 10 meeting, commissioners resuscitated a politically-chargedcharter amendment addressing “historic harms”that died in February on a 9-9 no-majority vote of the citizen charter review committee. (Leon County has a charter government, meaning voters OK'd a local home rule document, a sort of constitution, that serves as the county’s governing framework.)

The committee wrestled with the proposal, which as originally written would have required the county to conduct impact studies and create a community restoration fund to support programs for people whose ancestors were enslaved or otherwise affected by Jim Crow laws and other policies. A later version deleted references to slavery and segregation.

Ahead of the April meeting, county staff urged commissioners to leave well enough alone and let the amendment rest so the commission isn't caught crosswise with the state and federal government crackdown on DEI initiatives.

The new version crafted by county staff, rather than looking to start anything new, reinforces the work that the county is already doing to address historically underserved areas. And the new language says, "We further affirm Leon County’s commitment to addressing the needs of historically underserved areas and vulnerable populations in our community."

Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email atAOtero@tallahassee.comand follow her on X:@ari_v_otero.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat:Florida's anti-DEI law impacts Leon County, Tallahassee

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Savannah leaders dish on the state of small business locally

May 10, 2026
Savannah leaders dish on the state of small business locally

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson stood on the stage inside the Savannah Civic Center Ballroom and asked attendees if they had a business card. If so, raise them in the air, he said.

USA TODAY

Then he told the room of over 100 small business owners and leaders to exchange cards with someone else. It was the launch of the 2026 Mayor’s Small Business Conference.

Each year small business professionals around Savannah and Chatham County attend the event, which in recent years has been accompanied by a reverse trade show with larger employers, to network and learn about resources for small business growth. The conference is always accompanied by a state of small business discussion, where leaders from varying sectors discuss the opportunities and challenges facing them.

Here are a few takeaways from this year’s state of small business.

More:Gulfstream invests $5 million in Georgia education for talent pipeline

Economic growth stronger than projected, opportunities exist

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson delivered opening remarks at the 2026 Mayor's Small Business Conference on May 6, 2026.

Georgia Southern’s Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics Michael Toma delivered an overview of the regional economy and how small businesses fit into that picture.

The regional economy has been anchored in recent years by what Toma calls two “overlays:” growth in logistics driven by the Georgia Ports Authority and growth in manufacturing driven by Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant America in Bryan County.

Through the first quarter of this year, regional employment growth would be relatively flat without growth in logistics and manufacturing, Toma said.

“The data is finally catching up with growth that we're seeing in our electric vehicle industry and Hyundai and the ecosystem around that,” Toma said. “…That’s really good because those two sectors are fundamentally supporting our regional economy right now.”

Georgia Southern’s Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economic Michael Toma delivered an overview of the regional economy at the 2026 Mayor's Small Business Conference on May 6, 2026.

For small businesses, the number that employ less than 100 employees increased 4.4% from last year. But that was driven primarily by business over that threshold shrinking to below 100.

Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees grew at about a 1% clip, which is about two-thirds the growth rate of overall employment in the regional economy, Toma said.

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Toma added that companies which employ over 1,000 people grew at a 3% rate. That creates opportunities for small business to pursue support and complementary services for the growing sectors of the economy, he said.

State of Black Business

Moncello Stewart, president of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, is a lifelong Savannahian who serves on the board of several volunteer and community service organizations.

Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Moncello Stewart delivered remarks on the state of Black business ownership.

He summed it up succinctly.

“We’re growing, but we’re also being tested,” he said.

Stewart said he sees more people starting business every day but added the community has recently lost “several prominent Black-owned businesses.” Those businesses were community anchors and points of legacy, he said.

Stewart shared a statistic that Black businesses make up about 3% of employing firms nationally. Locally, that number is about 7%, he said. The strength of existing Black businesses compared to the national share shows the challenge isn’t starting businesses, but sustaining them and scaling them, he said.

The Greater Savannah Black Chamber has been working to strengthen community ties, including with faith-based organizations, and creating business clubs to help with succession planning.

“We understand that business growth is tied to trust, relationships and consistent support,” he said.

Stewart also said there is greater opportunity to engage Savannah's Black businesses in the tourism sector through contracts, partnerships and visibility. "That's not just a challenge, it's an opportunity," he said.

The Greater Savannah Black Chamber is hosting aBlack Business Expo on Aug. 1at the Savannah Convention Center. Stewart said the expo is the largest south of Virginia.

Evan Lasseter is Savannah and Chatham County government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News:Savannah's state of small business shows growth opportunities

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Saturday, May 9, 2026

2026 stock car racing season opened last week at some area tracks

May 09, 2026
2026 stock car racing season opened last week at some area tracks

WATERTOWN — Casino Speedwayofficialsare definitely hoping for a little bit more help from Mother Nature as they head into the 2026 stock car racing.

USA TODAY

The 1/4-mile clay oval track near Lake Kampeska in Watertown is set to open its 72nd season with a Mother's Day program scheduled for Sunday, May 10.

Each of the six regular classes cars are scheduled to race in the program, which will start at 5 p.m.

"We're starting early for the first month. I just want to see if starting earlier will get more people to come out," Casino Speedway owner-promoter Todd Good said.

A good majority of 19 scheduled programs this summer will be hosted on Sundays, and most of them, after May at least, will begin at 6 p.m. Last summer, season-opening and season-ending events at the track were wiped out by weather along with a mid-summer stretch that included six programs cancelled in eight tries.

So far this year, Mother Nature has helped track officials prepare the track, and the forecast looks good for this weekend.

"I hate to say it, but I think we're going to get to race," Good said.

Casino officials are expecting to have most other things taken care before Sunday's opening program. A new grandstand has arrived but may not be installed yet for the opening week.

Special programs scheduled include the 11th Casino Speedway Memorial on May 23; 14th Marilyn Olson Memorial on June 6; third B-Dubs Summer Slam featuring Midwest Sprint Touring Series (MSTS)/Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) 410 Sprints on June 28; 15th Summersota Nationals featuring the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) on Thursday, July 16; second FYE Class featuring the Tri-State Late Models on Saturday, Aug. 22; Season Track Championships on Sept. 6; and the season-ending ninth Autumn Classic on Sept. 25-26.

Fifty-eight cars participated May 3 in the 2026 Car Show and Test N' Tune session at the speedway. Admission for most regular events this summer is $15 for adults and $5 for students 8-13. Children 7-and-under are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult.

Track champions from 2025 are all expected to race here again this summer, including Chad Becker of Aberdeen, late models; Mike Stearns of Aberdeen, modifieds; Todd Stark of Watertown, Midwest modifieds; Christian Kast of Fairmount, ND, hornets; Maria Broksieck of Goodwin, street stocks; and Curt Kranz of Watertown, Gen X late models.

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Stark, Kast and Kranz all won their classes for the first time, and Stearns repeated as the modified champion. Broksieck led street stock drivers for the fourth year in a row and sixth time in eight years. Becker won the late model division for the seventh-straight year and for the 13th time in the last 17 years.

Schedules, results and other information for all area racetracks can be found atwww.myracepass.com.

The racing season for many area drivers kicked off this past weekend with season-opening events at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron and Fiesta City Speedway in Montevideo, MN.

Drivers will get to chance to compete more regularly at DSFS on Saturdays this year, creating the old eastern South Dakota loop with drivers competing in Aberdeen on Friday, Huron on Saturday and Watertown on Sunday.

"I honestly feel that Huron being open full time is going to be a benefit for us," Good said.

Scott Tofte of Madison, MN (left), Todd Stark of Watertown and Ryan Flaten of Madison, MN (15F) dash down the backstretch in a Midwest modified heat race during The Clash at Casino Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Watertown. Stark captured the Midwest modified season points championship at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen on Friday, Aug. 22 and then won his first feature of the season at Casino Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Here's more on the area racetracks:

Casino Speedway (Watertown)

  • Season Opener — Scheduled for Sunday, May 8 at 5 p.m.

  • Main Racing Night — Sundays. Races will start at 5 p.m. in May before typically starting at 6 p.m.

  • Regular Racing Classes — Late models, modifieds, Midwest modifieds, hornets, street stocks and Gen X late models.

  • 2026 Schedule — 19 scheduled programs. Sundays: May 10, 17, 24 and 31; June 7, 14, 21 and 28; July 12, 19 and 26; August 2, 9, 16 and 30; and Sept. 6. Other events on Thursday, July 16; Saturday, Aug. 22; and Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26.

  • 2025 Track Champions — See above.

2025 CASINO SPEEDWAY:Six drivers crowned as 2025 points champions at Casino Speedway

Brown County Speedway (Aberdeen)

  • Season Opener — Hosted Friday, May 1. (Opening-night feature winners included Kent Arment of Aberdeen, late models; Dawson Zabel of Selby, Midwest modifieds; Stearsn, modifieds; Cole Greseth of Harwood, ND, street stocks; Trevor Nelson of Warner, super stocks; and Regan Reinke of Lisbon, ND, semi-pro legends.

  • Main Racing Night — Fridays, typically 7 p.m. starts.

  • Regular Racing Classes — Street stocks, late models, Midwest modifieds, modifeds, super stocks and Semi-Pro Legends (new).

  • 2026 Schedule — 19 scheduled programs. Fridays: May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; June 5, 12, 19 and 26; July 3, 10, 17 and 31; and Aug. 21 and 28 (Season Championship). Doubleheaders set for Friday-Saturday July 10-11, July 24-25, Sept. 4-5 and Oct. 2-3.

  • 2025 Track Champions — Jayden Bogh of Huron (street stocks), Becker (late models), Stark (Midwest modifeds), Stearns (modifieds) and Mark Abeln of Groton (super stocks).

Chad Becker of Aberdeen won the points title in the late model division after the completion of the 2025 Season Championship racing program on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Casino Speedway in Watertown. The title was seventh in a row and the 13th in the past 17 years for Becker.

Dakota State Fair Speedway (Huron)

  • Season Opener — Hosted Saturday, May 2. (Opening-night feature winners included Bogh, street stocks; Darren Engesser of Gary, Midwest modifieds; Nelson, super stocks; and Cole Searing of Huron, late models.

  • Main Racing Night — Saturdays, typically 7 p.m. starts.

  • Regular Racing Classes — Street stocks, Midwest modifeds, super stocks and late models.

  • 2026 Schedule — 13 scheduled programs. Saturdays: May 2, 16, 23 and 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 4 and 18; and Aug. 8 and 16. Also Thursday, June 4.

  • 2025 Track Champions — Not applicable.

Maria Broksieck of Goodwin won the points title in the street stock division after the completion of the 2025 Season Championship racing program on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Casino Speedway in Watertown. It was her fourth street stock points championship in a row and the sixth in the past eight years.

Fiesta City Speedway (Montevideo, MN)

  • Season Opener — Held Friday, May 1 (Opening-night feature winners included Ryan Flaten of Madison, MN, Midwest modifieds; Adam VanDerostyne of Canby, MN, hornets; Jason Best of Clarkfield, MN, pure stocks; Kyle Dykhoff of Starbuck, MN, street stocks; Shane Sabraski of Rice, MN, super stocks; and Matt Gilbertson of Montevideo, MN, late models.

  • Main Racing Night — Fridays, typically 7 p.m. starts.

  • Regular Racing Classes — Pure stocks, Midwest modifieds, street stocks, super stocks, late models and hornets.

  • 2026 Schedule — 15 scheduled programs. Fridays: May 1, 8, 15 and 22; June 12, 19 and 26; July 10, 17 and 24; and Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28 (season championship). Doubleheader planned for Friday-Saturday, June 5-6.

  • 2025 Track Champions — Landon Albertson of Cottonwood, MN (pure stocks), Justin Bjorklund of Sacred Heart, MN (Midwest modifieds), Dustin Schultz of Montevideo, MN (street stocks), Travis Scott of Glendwood, MN (super stocks), Devin Fouquette of St. Cloud, MN (late models) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (hornets).

OTHER 2025 RACING:2025 track champions crowned over the weekend at Brown County & Fiesta City Speedways

Madison Speedway (Madison, MN)

  • Season Opener — Scheduled for Monday, May 25.

  • Main Racing Night — Saturdays, typically 7 p.m. starts.

  • Regular Racing Classes — Pure stocks, street stocks, Midwest modifieds, super stocks, modifieds, Gen X late models and hornets.

  • 2026 Schedule — 14 scheduled programs. Saturdays: May 30; June 13, 20 and 27; July 11 and 25; and Aug. 1, 15 and 29. Season opener on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25). Friday-Saturday doubleheaders on July 3-4 and Oct. 2-3. Season championship on Monday, Sept. 7. Also Sunday, Sept. 13, Lac qui Parle County Fair races.

  • 2025 Track Champions — Albertson (pure stocks), Zachary Flickinger of Madison, MN (street stocks), Scott Tofte of Madison, MN (Midwest modifieds), Brayden Hewdtke of Atwater, MN (super stocks), Brian Haben of Appleton, MN (modifieds), Trevor Walsh of Watertown (Gen X late models) and Kast (hornets).

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion:2026 area stock car racing preview

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Dolly Parton, Zayn, more nixing tour dates. See 2026 cancellations

May 09, 2026
Dolly Parton, Zayn, more nixing tour dates. See 2026 cancellations

Some of your favorite musical artists are sitting this tour cycle out.

USA TODAY

From country legendDolly Partontothe Pussycat Dolls,several musical acts have either modified recent touring schedules or canceled all their stops completely in recent months.

The reasons behind the changes vary, with some artists citinghealth issuesand others hinting at a lack of audience interest.

"When we announced the PCD FOREVER Tour, we hoped to bring the show to fans across the world," the Pussycat Dolls said in aMay 4 Instagram post. "After taking an honest look at the North American run, we’ve made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to cancel all but one of the North America dates."

Other artists, includingMeghan TrainorandPost Malone, have also pulled the plug on their tours, offering similar but different statements about specific constraints. Malone, however, elected to "push the tour back" while Trainor canceled all Get In Girl Tour shows.

"I came to the realization that what we're trying to do, and what's possible, isn't really lining up," Malone wrote in a May 1 Instagram story. "We ain't ready for tour just yet..."

Here's a list of artists who have recently canceled their tours.

Dolly Parton

Amidst ongoing health issues, country legendDolly Partonmade the decision to cancel her previously postponed Las Vegas residency.

"It's going to take me a little while before I'm up to stage-performance level," the "Jolene" singer said in a May 4 update. "Well, you get on to Vegas. You have a big time, and hopefully, some time you'll come up to New York and maybe see my show."

"I've still got some healing to do, but I am on my way!" Parton added. "See you soon."

Dolly Parton performs in October 2021 in Nashville, Tenn.

Zayn

Zayn Malik, like Parton, is stepping back from the spotlight and stage to focus on hishealth.

The former One Direction memberrevealed in a May 1 Instagram story that he was reducing the number of shows on his Konnakol Tour due to ongoing health concerns. The "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" singer canceled all of the dates on the upcoming leg of his U.S. tour.

Zayn Malik performs at O2 Academy Leeds on Nov. 23, 2024 in Leeds, England.

"I’ve been at home recovering and I’m doing well and will be better and stronger than before. I want to make sure I still get out and see as many of you as I possibly can," he said in the post.

"I’m really looking forward to playing these shows for you, and I hope to see the rest of you around the world very soon. Big Love, Z," Malik added.

Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster were automatically refunded to customers; however, those who purchased tickets through a third-party reseller, such as StubHub or SeatGeek, were encouraged to contact their respective vendor for additional information.

The Pussycat Dolls

The upcomingPussycat Dollsreunion will go on, just not in America. The girl groupannounced May 4that they were canceling all but one of their North American shows.

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The"Buttons" singersare still performing at West Hollywood Pride's OUTLOUD Music Festival on June 6, as planned.

The Pussycat Dolls' Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger on and Kimberly Wyatt perform in Manila on June 11, 2009.

"We are putting everything into making this show a true celebration of the music and the memories, for the fans who have been with us from the beginning and those discovering us for the first time," the Pussycat Dolls said in an Instagram post. "We're working hard to create the kind of show we've always dreamed of bringing to you."

The tour, which was to kick off in June, features just three original members:Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts. The group did not directly offer a reason for the move.

They said refunds for direct sales would be issued automatically, while anyone who purchased tickets through third-party sellers would need to contact their point of purchase.

Post Malone and Jelly Roll

Post Malonetweaked his tour schedule. In a May 1 Instagram story, the rap-turned-country star announced that he was "pushing the tour back," canceling five shows across the United States as a result of the schedule shift.

"I came to the realization that what we're trying to do, and what's possible, isn't really lining up," Malone wrote in a May 1 Instagram story. "We ain't ready for tour just yet, so I'm making the decision to push the tour back."

According toRolling Stone, the schedule shift comes as the nine-time diamond-certified star finishes his 40-song double album "The Eternal Buzz." The series of canceled shows was scheduled to take place between May 13 and May 29.

Even with the stadium dates pushed back, Post Malone is still scheduled to play festival shows in New Mexico (May 16), Florida (May 31) and South Carolina (June 7), all of whichremain posted on his website.Post Malone did not cite ticket sales as a reason for the schedule changes.

Malone'sBig Ass Stadium Tourwith fellow country artistJelly Rollkicked off April 10 and resumes in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 9.

Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainorwon't be taking the show on the road, revealing that she canceled her upcoming tour to be there forher family.

"After a lot of reflection and some really tough conversations, I've made the difficult decision to cancel theGet In Girl Tour," Trainor said in an April 16 Instagram story. The announcement came one week before the release of Trainor's seventh album, "Toy With Me."

"Balancing the release of a new album, preparing for a nationwide tour, and welcoming our new baby girl to our growing family of five has just been more than I can take on right now, and I need to be home and present for each and all of them at this time," she said.

Meghan Trainor performs during the iHeartRadio Wango Tango concert on May 10, 2025.

Trainor apologized to her fans, "I am so sorry to let you down."

"But I know this is the right decision for my family and me right now," she added. "I promise I’ll be back soon, and I can’t wait for you to hear this new record. I’m so proud of it, and I’m endlessly grateful for your love and support always."

The "All About That Bass" songstress and her husband,Daryl Sabara, welcomed theirthird child together, a daughter, via surrogacy on Jan. 18. They also share two sons – Riley, 4, and Barry, 2.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, KiMi Robinson, Greta Cross & Taijuan Moorman/ USA TODAY; Cooper Worth/ Des Moines Register

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dolly Parton, Zayn, more nixing 2026 tour dates. See cancellations

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Anthony Edwards on the confrontation: “Competition at …

May 09, 2026
Anthony Edwards on the confrontation: “Competition at …

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USA TODAY

Anthony Slater:Anthony Edwards on the confrontation: “Competition at the highest level. We want to win. Finchy want to win. Tony Brothers is Tony Brothers. We all love him.”

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:Anthony Edwards on the confrontation: “Competition at …

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How Mike Iandolo found instant success as Ball State men's volleyball coach

May 09, 2026
How Mike Iandolo found instant success as Ball State men's volleyball coach

In June 2025, Mike Iandolo found himself unexpectedly thrust into the role of interim head coach for Ball State men's volleyball after four seasons in Muncie as an assistant.

USA TODAY

Fast forward to May 2026, and Iandolo's Cardinals are getting ready to play in the Final Four of the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship. Ball State swept the Men's Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season and tournament titles to earn a national seed in the tournament,then defeated Pepperdine in a five-set thrilleron Saturday, May 2, to clinch a spot in the national semifinals for the first time since 2022 and give the program its first non-consolation round NCAA Tournament win since 1973.

A humble leader, Iandolo is quick to credit those around him for his immediate head coaching success.

"We've got the right players, for sure, and I think our assistant coaches are doing a really good job bringing their perspective in here on some things," Iandolo said. "But I also think it helps that I've been here and I knew a lot of these guys, recruited most of them, been in the gym with them, and knew last year the things that didn't go well."

More:Patrick Rogers serves Ball State men's volleyball into NCAA Final Four

More:Ball State men's volleyball clinches NCAA Tournament bid, wins MIVA title

At this time last year, Iandolo becoming the head coach was far from anyone's mind. Donan Cruz's resignation from the post in June caught everyone off guard, including the players and assistant coaches. Iandolo was named interim coach immediately upon Cruz's resignation and had the interim tag removed in the weeks leading up to the season.

Even with the unexpected change, Ball State's players were confident that Iandolo was the right man for the job.

"I had no doubts from the start when I heard that news that Mike would be awesome," senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers said. "He's been a previous head coach before he came here about four years ago, so he's got the experience. We trusted him from last year and the year before that, for me personally. We knew what we were going to deal with, and he's been great so far. Couldn't ask for a better coach right now."

Iandolo was a standout in his own playing career, earning two all-MIVA first-team nods during his time as a setter for Lewis University. After a short professional career that took him to Florida and Sweden, Iandolo got his coaching start as an assistant at Grand Canyon University. He took his first head coaching job at the University of Charleston in West Virginia and spent three seasons there before joining Cruz's Ball State staff ahead of the 2022 season.

With his own history as a player and having already been in Muncie for four seasons, building and maintaining strong relationships with the roster was hardly a challenge for Iandolo. Within his first few days as head coach, he had already called every returning player to discuss their individual and team goals for the upcoming season.

"I think the main thing for me is that he cares a lot about us," senior setter Lucas Machado said. "He acts more like a father for us than as a coach, trying to know us better outside of the court, stuff that we like to do, our hobbies and all of that. I think this relationship that he wants to have with us, being our friend instead of just being our coach, I think that helps a lot with everything and our success this season."

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Iandolo has struck the perfect balance between friendship and mentorship. Practices are lighthearted and fun for the most part, but when it's time to lock in, he has no trouble getting everybody in line and ready to go. Sophomore opposite Ryan Louis came up with a humorous comparison for Iandolo's coaching style that he has shared with his teammates throughout the season.

"I've talked to some of the guys about this — the way I see it, he's kind of like a babysitter," Louis said. "You always see in movies or something, a babysitter who has older kids, he's just him kind of messing with them but also keeping them calm. That's what he does with us. We have fun with Mike, we can joke around, can be normal around him, but when he needs us to be focused, he'll get on us, tell us, 'Hey, lock in, figure it out, and let's get to work.' He's very good at keeping emotions in control."

That sort of camaraderie and connectedness is something Ball State lacked last season. The Cardinals had high expectations for the 2025 campaign but underachieved, finishing the year with a four-match skid and a first-round exit from the MIVA Tournament. Injuries certainly played a role in last year's disappointment, but the team was missing the sense of togetherness that has propelled them to a historic season this year.

With Iandolo's coaching style placing such an emphasis on relationships, he made it a priority for his players to build stronger relationships with each other during the offseason.

"We had to get better in some off-court stuff," Iandolo said. "Our guys had to be better off the court in choices they made but also in spending time together. We had a lot of seniors last year and fifth-year guys on top of that, and it's hard as a fifth-year guy when you're 22, 23 and you've got teammates that are 18 years old. You're just in different phases of life at that point. I think they've done a good job this year making sure they're spending time together off the court. They always hang out, they're super close, and I think they're genuine when they say that they're close and they're all friends.

"They're playing for each other, and if you ask our seniors, it's the most fun they've had with a team because they are so close."

Iandolo will lead Ball State into a Final Four matchup with UC Irvine on Saturday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET in UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Should the Cardinals win that match, they will advance to the national championship against either Hawaii or Long Beach State on Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. ET.

Two more wins would give Ball State its first team national championship in school history and cement Iandolo as perhaps the quickest legend in school history.

The pressure is on, but the Cardinals have their minds in the right place.

"We talk about being good teammates and talk about having gratitude every day, things that just keep their mind on what is really important," Iandolo said. "The volleyball is important. Being good is important. But so is being a good teammate and being a good dude and enjoying ourselves in what we're doing."

Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline against Pepperdine during an NCAA Tournament match Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile.

Contact Cade Hampton via email atcbhampton@usatodayco.comor on X, formerly known as Twitter,@CadeHamp10.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press:Ball State men's volleyball finds immediate success under Mike Iandolo

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