m.jilislot LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lynne Roberts wasn’t looking to leave the Utah women’s basketball team. Then she got a call from Los Angeles Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley that changed her thinking. Roberts was introduced Thursday as coach of the Sparks, becoming the second coach to make the leap from college to the WNBA this month. Karl Smesko of Florida Gulf Coast got the Atlanta Dream job last week. “I was 100 percent invested at Utah,” Roberts said. “It just kind of felt like this is a golden opportunity. As a competitor, the chance to coach the best in the world, it’s what I want.” She replaces Curt Miller , who was let go in September and now is general manager of the Dallas Wings. Roberts inherits a team that has a strong young nucleus of Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby. The Sparks have the No. 2 pick in next year’s WNBA draft. “We’ve got kind of a cool combination of some veteran leadership and then we’ve got a really dynamic young group,” Roberts said. “That’s a good roster right there and then we can keep working with it.” Los Angeles finished 8-32 last season for the league’s worst record and has missed the playoffs for four straight years. “I want to compete, I want to win now,” Roberts said. “I know that’s easier said than done, but I’m up for the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.” Roberts is friends with Southern California women’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb and UCLA coach Cori Close. “That was intentional,” Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley said. “That we were bringing somebody into this role that had existing relationships because again this is a community of women’s basketball that is exceptional.” Roberts added, “I want to be the top of that pyramid with the Sparks.” Roberts is returning to her native California. The 49-year-old coach grew up in the Northern California city of Redding. She played college ball at Seattle Pacific and then began coaching at Chico State before moving to Pacific and then Utah. Roberts was 165-116 in nine-plus seasons at Utah and recently signed a six-year extension. She led the team to three straight NCAA Tournament berths and was the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023. The Utes have started this season 3-1 and will be coached by Gavin Petersen, who was promoted from associate head coach. “I poured 10 years of my life into that place and I loved it. I loved every minute of it,” Roberts said. “Where we started wasn’t great, where it is now is great and I’m very proud of that.” Roberts said the current upheaval in college basketball including name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and Utah's move to the Big 12 this season had nothing to do with her leaving. “I'm sitting here because it's a chance to coach the best people in the world and win a championship in LA. That's it,” she said. “As a competitor and as someone that kind of thrives in pressure, being in this market, being in LA, it sounds like heaven to me." AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Keith Haring designed this eye-popping carousel, which you can see at Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy. One of the things that makes New York City so special is that there is always something new to do, to see, to try. If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple or trying to buy a gift for someone who is, here are six experiences we guarantee will be more memorable and appreciated than any item you can buy. Start spreading the news. GetYourGuide Welcome to New York: A Tour of Taylor Swift Hotspots Ultimate Swiftie Hannah Kulawiak leads GetYourGuide's Taylor Swift walking tour of New York City. Swifties, are you ready for it? This fun Taylor Swift walking tour is led by the amazing Hannah Kulawiak, who won GetYourGuide’s Ultimate Swiftie contest, and it will give you a whole new perspective of New York City. Starting at Housing Works Bookstore, which you’ll recognize from “All Too Well: The Short Film,” the two hour tour takes you to places Swift has mentioned in her song lyrics as well as some of her own favorite haunts. Of course, you’ll walk on Cornelia Street and visit the High Line but there’s so much more to this tour, thanks to Kulawiak. A GetYourGuide Original, the tour is a great way to get an insider’s view of the city – as well as a friendship bracelet. Stay Like Wicked Experience at the New York Hilton Midtown Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Grab your bestie and head to the New York Hilton Midtown for a truly Wicked experience. Just like Elphaba and Glinda, you and your roomie will share a suite – it’s up to you who gets the pink side and who gets the green. The suite features a panoramic view of Oz (and Manhattan) and a Yellow Brick Road to the gorgeous bedroom. There are so many surprises, from a hidden beverage bar to a pastry-filled hot air balloon to Wicked -themed amenities and even tickets to see the movie (again), you can’t help believing in magic. Barbie: A Cultural Icon at Museum of Arts and Design There are more than 250 vintage dolls, outfits, ephemera and interactive photo ops at the Barbie exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design. What a doll! Barbie turned 65 this year and she’s more popular than ever, thanks to Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated movie starring Margot Robbie. And, just like pretty much everything related to Barbie, this delightful exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design (one of my favorite New York City museums) is deeper than you might expect. Not only does it cover Barbie’s fashions, careers and diversity; it also provides historical context for the iconic doll’s impact and reveals the way she reflects women’s ever-changing place in society over almost seven decades. It’s eye-opening, fun and totally Instagrammable. Book your tickets in advance and be sure to check out the eclectic gift shop before you leave. The Broadway Collection Get your Broadway loving recipient tickets to see Hadestown through The Broadway Collection. You can’t visit New York City without seeing at least one musical and the best way to get tickets is through The Broadway Collection . Because the website contains so much fascinating and practical information about each show as well as unique ways to expand your theater experience, you may end up deciding to see more than one — just like a New Yorker would. After all, how can you be expected to choose between Tony Award winning shows like Hamilton , Hadestown and Hell’s Kitchen ? Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy Luna Luna is New York City's must-see art exhibition. If you’re looking for a truly extraordinary art exhibition, head to Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy at The Shed in Hudson Yards to have your mind blown. When you first walk in and see the stunning theme park attractions created by some of the biggest artists of the 20 th century, it’s almost impossible to believe that fairgoers once got to experience these rides as if they were going to Six Flags. Yes, the Ferris wheel is a Jean-Michel Basquiat. The carousel is a Kenny Scharf. The swings are a Keith Haring. The original Luna Luna was conceived in Berlin in 1987 by André Heller as “a carnival of the avant-garde” and it is magical to see it brought back to life decades later. Although you can’t actually go on the rides, you can walk through pavilions designed by Salvador Dali, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein and imagine the joy experienced by fairgoers almost 40 years ago. The gorgeous exhibition is an important and timely reminder that art can and should be everywhere. Blacklane Global Chauffeur Service A chauffeured ride via Blacklane is a thoughtful and luxurious gift. Everyone knows that driving in New York City is stressful so one of the most thoughtful and luxurious gifts you can give someone is a chauffeur-driven ride via Blacklane . So much more reliable than Uber or Lyft, Blacklane vehicles are always clean and comfortable and their chauffeurs professional, polite and safe. Whether your recipient needs an airport transfer, a ride to a show, a car at their disposal all day or even a ride into Manhattan from another city, Blacklane makes it easy for them to feel like an A-lister. Downloading the app is the equivalent of having your own private driver. Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service. We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain: False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author Content that otherwise violates our site's terms. User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk Actions that otherwise violate our site's terms. So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your insights Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view. Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules. Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service.Minnesota business leaders say Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in higher prices for consumers

Before being elected as the first transgender woman to the US Congress, 34-year-old Sarah McBride said she expected hostility. A harsh national spotlight has fallen swiftly upon her. "They may try to misgender me, they may try to say the wrong name, they will do what we can predictably assume they might do," she told the TransLash podcast last month ahead of her resounding election victory on November 5. "They are going to do that to get a rise out of me and my job will be to not give them the response they want," the Democrat from Delaware explained. Ahead of her arrival in the House of Representatives on January 3, McBride was targeted by a resolution this week from a right-wing Republican colleague that would ban transgender women from women's toilets in the Capitol. "Just because a Congressman wants to wear a mini skirt doesn’t mean he can come into a women’s bathroom," South Carolina firebrand Nancy Mace wrote on social media as she led a highly personal campaign against McBride. House Speaker Mike Johnson, after initially seeking to buy time to debate the issue, came out in support of a ban, saying that all single-sex facilities would be "reserved for individuals of that biological sex." McBride -- who wears knee-length dresses, not miniskirts -- issued a statement saying that she said would respect the rules "even if I disagree with them." "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," said the politician and activist, who transitioned as a 21-year-old and told her parents on Christmas Day 2011. Donald Trump repeatedly raised transgender issues in the closing stages of his presidential campaign, with aides noting how questions around trans identity struck a nerve with swing voters. Two of the biggest issues -- at the heart of ongoing "culture wars" between conservatives and progressives -- are whether transgender women should be allowed in women's toilets and be admitted in women's sport. Mocking transgender athletes and "woke ideology," Trump promised to get "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports." McBride has long been an advocate for trans rights and she helped campaign for a law banning gender discrimination in her home state of Delaware, during which she was publicly called a "freak" and the "devil incarnate". "Listening to that was demeaning and dehumanizing for my child," her mother Sally told The Washington Post in a 2018 profile. "I still have a hard time coping with that." Undeterred, McBride rode the blows and was elected as the first US transgender state senator in 2020. She has been open about her mental health struggles growing up as a boy named Tim and the personal tragedy that has marked her life since, writing a memoir called "Tomorrow Will Be Different" in 2018. "I remember as a child praying in my bed at night that I would wake up the next day and be a girl," she told a TED talk in 2016. She first gathered major public attention with an open letter while a student leader at American University in Washington that announced her transition. She went on to encounter President Joe Biden and his family, also Delaware natives, when she became active in grassroots politics there. After interning at the White House under President Barack Obama, she secured an invitation to speak at the 2016 Democratic Party convention. The White House was also the scene of her first encounter with her late husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man and LGTBQ+ activist. They married two years later shortly before Cray died from cancer. Knowing the attention she is destined for in the US Congress, she says her aim is to be an effective congresswoman focused on everyday voter priorities such as housing and inflation. But she knows she will be constantly pushed to be a spokeswoman -- and defender -- of the trans community. "I can't do right by the trans community if I'm not being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she told TransLash. "It's the only way that people will see that trans people can be good doctors, can be good lawyers, good educators, good members of Congress. I can't be there to put out a press release and tweet every time someone says something." adp/bgs

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Pinzon had 22 points in Bryant's 97-85 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Pinzon shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line for the Bulldogs (4-3). Connor Withers scored 17 points while going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and 1 for 4 from the line. Keyshawn Mitchell finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points, while adding 13 rebounds. Brandon Weston led the way for the Tigers (3-5) with 24 points and six steals. Antoine Lorick III added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Tennessee State. Carlous Williams had 16 points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said on Saturday that her department is "really worried" President-elect Donald Trump 's focus on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants will divert funds and resources from investigations into serial killers, cold case homicides, and human trafficking cases, among other state and federal cases. Trump, who won the 2024 presidential election earlier this month, campaigned on a platform promising mass deportations for illegal migrants and stricter border policies. The president-elect has previously warned that he'll deploy the U.S. National Guard, as well as government agencies, to carry out his proposed deportation policy . However, there are questions over the legal limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. On November 18, Trump affirmed a post by conservative commentator Tom Fitton on Truth Social that claimed the Trump administration is "prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program." The president-elect reshared the post and wrote: "TRUE!!!" MSNBC's Alex Witt said on Saturday, "President-elect Trump says he plans to declare a national emergency now to secure the necessary resources to deport millions of undocumented immigrants," before asking Nessel, a Democrat who has served in the state's top legal post since 2019, "How might the diversion of funds to deport people impact our state and federal partnerships in human trafficking, and cold case sexual assault?" Nessel responded that "we are really worried about this" as the state partners with local, state, and federal authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security on various crime cases. "We've sort of already been told by some of those [partner] entities, that some of our ongoing projects where we work to apprehend serial killers and cold case homicides and human trafficking cases, that they don't know they're going to be available to work with us on those kinds of cases in the future because they're going to be so busy diverting their finite resources to try to apprehend individuals who may be in the country illegally," Nessel said. She added: "When you decide to use your resources to capture those individuals [undocumented immigrants] as opposed to going after murders, and serial rapists, and human traffickers, we're making our communities a whole lot less safe by doing that." In response to Nessel's comments on MSNBC, Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign spokesperson who has been tapped to serve as his communications director, told Newsweek in an email Saturday afternoon: "This idiot is trying to play the victim here in order to subvert the will of the American people who voted overwhelmingly for President Trump's immigration and border policies." Newsweek has reached out Nessel's office for comment via email on Saturday. Meanwhile, Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance transition team spokesperson, previously told Newsweek that Trump "will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families." Nessel has publicly criticized Trump, having authored an opinion piece in the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday that criticized several of Trump's Cabinet picks for their histories of sexual assault allegations. In August, Nessel warned of a second Trump presidency during an appearance on MSNBC 's The Katie Phang Show. In reference to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot and Trump's alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, in which President Joe Biden won, Nessel said, "I think that what we saw in 2020, it is going to pale in comparison to what we are likely going to see in 2024 and, again, it is not my job to decide winners or losers. It is my job to defend the will of the people, whatever that might be." Trump, meanwhile, won the battleground state of Michigan in November against Vice President Kamala Harris .None