A federal judge on Friday said he was blocking subpoenas that the Justice Department served to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in a probe purported to be about the management of the central bank’s renovation.
“A mountain of evidence suggests that the Government served these subpoenas on the Board to pressure its Chair into voting for lower interest rates or resigning,” Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., wrote in a court filing.
Boasberg continued: “On the other side of the scale, the Government has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime; indeed, its justifications are so thin and unsubstantiated that the Court can only conclude that they are pretextual.”
“The Court therefore finds that the subpoenas were issued for an improper purpose and will quash them,” the order states.
Powell said the threatened indictment was related to his testimony before the Senate in June about the renovation of Federal Reserve office buildings.
“No one—certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve—is above the law,” Powell said in an unprecedented Sunday night video statement Jan. 11. “But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”
The judge’s order was the latest failed effort by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, to prosecute members of the political class as President Donald Trump ratchets up his calls to go after his perceived enemies.
Pirro’s office also failed to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who made a video noting troops do not have to obey “illegal orders.”
At a press conference Friday in Washington, Pirro angrily said the judge’s order wrongly exonerated Powell and others.
“No one is above the law, but for the first time a judge’s ruling that a grand jury subpoena — on its face legal in all regards — can be ignored, because the judge thinks the subject is beyond reproach. This is a decision that is untethered to the law,” she said.
Pirro also insisted that she was not acting in response to political pressure. “Politics is not the lane I’m in right now. My job is to present evidence,” she said.
Since before the start of his second term, Trump has demanded lower interest rates and has routinely attacked Powell and the central bank’s other top officials. The administration has ramped up that criticism as an affordability crisis hit consumers.
The Fed cut interest rates three times last year.
“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” he said.
Powell said in the January video that the focus on his testimony and the headquarters renovation project, which some administration officials seized on last year, were “pretexts.”
“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president,” he said.
The probe has infuriated members of Congress, chief among them North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who said he will block the confirmation of Trump’s nominee to replace Powell, Kevin Warsh, until the probe is dropped.
Moments after the judge’s order was released, Tillis posted on X, “This ruling confirms just how weak and frivolous the criminal investigation of Chairman Powell is and it is nothing more than a failed attack on Fed independence.”
“We all know how this is going to end and the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office should save itself further embarrassment and move on,” Tillis continued.
He said “appealing the ruling will only delay the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair.”
Tillis sits on a key subcommittee whose approval is necessary to bring Warsh’s nomination to the full Senate. Tillis reiterated his position earlier this week.
“This outrageous decision will be appealed by the United States Department of Justice,” Pirro said. She did not give a timeline.
The Federal Reserve declined to comment on the judge’s Friday order.
The Fed’s Open Market Committee is scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday to consider whether to raise, lower or keep interest rates unchanged.
The spike in oil prices is certainly rocking financial markets worldwide because there is concern that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for *** long period of time. There’s concern Iran could start mining the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway off its coast where about 20% of the world’s oil passes, even though President Donald Trump said there are no reports of that happening yet. The US military destroyed more than *** dozen mine laying Iranian vessels on Tuesday that could lay bombs in the path ships travel. The president also ramped up threats, saying if Iran placed mines and they are not removed, quote, the Military consequences to Iran will be at *** level never seen before. Some analysts warn oil prices will go much higher if the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed, which would increase gas prices in the US even further. According to AAA today, the national average for *** gallon is 358. The White House insists the price hike is temporary. The recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary, and this operation. Will result in lower gas prices in the long term. Once the national security objectives of Operation Epic Fury are fully achieved, Americans will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly, potentially even lower than they were prior to the start of the operation. Today, the G7 leaders from the world’s seven largest economies will be meeting to discuss the economic consequences from this war at the White House. I’m Rachel Hirsheimer.
Roughly 2,500 Marines and at least one amphibious assault ship are headed for the Middle East, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said that elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to the Middle East. The move would mark a major addition of troops to the region.Marine Expeditionary Units are not only trained and equipped to conduct amphibious landings but they also specialize in bolstering security at embassies, evacuating civilians, and disaster relief. While the deployment is a major increase of troops to the region, it does not necessarily indicate that a ground operation is imminent or will take place at all.The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as well the Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships carrying the Marines are based in Japan and have been at sea in the waters of the Pacific Ocean for the past several days, according to images released by the military. Their location puts them more than a week away from the waters off Iran.Iran has continued to launch widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes, even as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pummel military and other targets across Iran.The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon deepened, with nearly 800 people killed and 850,000 displaced as Israel launched waves of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and warned there would be no let up.With growing global concerns about a possible energy crisis, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, hovered around $100 per barrel. Brent prices are about 40% higher than when Israel and the United States launched the war on Feb. 28.In an interview with Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump said the war would end “when I feel it in my bones.”
Roughly 2,500 Marines and at least one amphibious assault ship are headed for the Middle East, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said that elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to the Middle East. The move would mark a major addition of troops to the region.
Marine Expeditionary Units are not only trained and equipped to conduct amphibious landings but they also specialize in bolstering security at embassies, evacuating civilians, and disaster relief. While the deployment is a major increase of troops to the region, it does not necessarily indicate that a ground operation is imminent or will take place at all.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as well the Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships carrying the Marines are based in Japan and have been at sea in the waters of the Pacific Ocean for the past several days, according to images released by the military. Their location puts them more than a week away from the waters off Iran.
Iran has continued to launch widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes, even as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pummel military and other targets across Iran.
The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon deepened, with nearly 800 people killed and 850,000 displaced as Israel launched waves of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and warned there would be no let up.
With growing global concerns about a possible energy crisis, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, hovered around $100 per barrel. Brent prices are about 40% higher than when Israel and the United States launched the war on Feb. 28.
In an interview with Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump said the war would end “when I feel it in my bones.”
Jo Dee Messina has announced the upcoming release of her first album in more than a decade, and the country star has poured all those years’ worth of challenges and wisdom into the new songs.
Is Jo De Messina Releasing a New Album in 2026?
Yes.
The ’90s country icon is set to release a new album titled Bridges in the Summer of 2026.
The album draws on all of the challenges that Messina has faced over the last decade, including loss, struggle and illness.
The theme of the project is that life is all about change, and change is often difficult.
“We are often told not to burn bridges — and it’s good advice,” Messina states in a press release.
“I’ve lived long enough to know that’s true. But there are also exceptions, and sometimes it’s OK to let that baby burn. In life, sometimes we just need to look forward and keep going.”
Does Jo Dee Messina Have a New Single?
Yes.
Messina dropped the lead single from Bridges, titled “Some Bridges,” on Friday (March 13).
Five-time Grammy-winning producer, engineer and mixer Chris Lord-Alge mixed the track. Lord-Alge previously mixed many of Messina’s biggest hits, including “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
Who Is Jo Dee Messina?
Jo Dee Messina was one of country music’s biggest stars in the ’90s, posting a string of hits that included “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “That’s the Way,” “Bring on the Rain,” “My Give a Damn’s Busted” and more.
Business disputes with labels, personal struggles and more followed, bringing her run of hit singles to an end in the early 2000s.
What Is Jo Dee Messina Doing Today?
In the years since, Messina has continued to record and tour sporadically, but over the last few years she’s ramped her career back up again in response to renewed public interest.
Cole Swindell helped put the spotlight back on Messina in a major way in 2022, when he scored a No. 1 hit with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” The song borrowed heavily from Messina’s debut hit, 1996’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
The French energy company said production has stopped or is in the process of shutting down in Qatar, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates offshore, representing about 15% of the company’s total output.
The 2026 men’s college basketball coaching carousel has kicked into high gear, with more than 20 jobs already announcing changes — including power-conference positions.
Despite schools moving quickly at the ends of their respective seasons, an even larger contingent of programs at the low- and mid-major level have opted to stay the course with their embattled coaches.
Will that trend continue at the power-conference level?
That’s been the question for weeks among industry sources, with more jobs than usual hovering right around a 50-50 chance of turning into openings. As we’ll get into shortly, the rest of this week could determine how long the power-conference carousel spins this spring.
Whether it’s weeks or months, this will be your one-stop shop for the entire carousel — the latest news and buzz from around the country, primers on the big jobs as they open and analysis on all the dominoes that fall.
March 13
Cincinnati’s late surge toward an NCAA tournament bid fell short on Wednesday with an overtime loss to UCF, and Wes Miller’s tenure came to an end not long after. The Bearcats were in contention for NCAA tournament bids each of the past four seasons, but they ended up on the wrong side of the bubble every time. Miller finished 100-74 during his five seasons at the helm, but athletic director John Cunningham will now look for someone to get Cincy back to the dance.
Where does the job stack up in the Big 12?
Cincinnati is squarely in the middle of the pack when it comes to the attractiveness of the job. The Bearcats were a regular in the NCAA tournament under Mick Cronin and Bob Huggins in recent decades, but haven’t heard their name on Selection Sunday since Cronin left for UCLA in 2019. They have the resources to build a quality team, as the on-paper talent the past couple of years has been more than enough. The program also has a sound NIL structure, having hired general manager Corey Evans from the Oklahoma City Thunder last spring.
What names will be in the mix?
There are three sitting head coaches who stand out as potential options: Utah State‘s Jerrod Calhoun, Miami (Ohio)‘s Travis Steele and Akron‘s John Groce.
Calhoun is considered the favorite and checks a lot of boxes. He’s from Ohio, he was a student assistant under Bob Huggins at Cincinnati and an assistant under Huggins at West Virginia, and he has had varying levels of success at three different schools. He led Utah State to the NCAA tournament last season and won the Mountain West regular-season title this season. He was Kansas State’s top target before the Wildcats were forced to move on, but Cincinnati is a more appealing job to Calhoun.
Steele is plenty familiar with the area. He spent 14 years at Xavier, first as an assistant coach then as a head coach, and has been at Miami (Ohio) since 2022. He led the RedHawks to a remarkable campaign, going 31-0 in the regular season before losing in the MAC tournament quarterfinal.
Groce is another name with success as a head coach and ties to the state. He was an assistant at Xavier and Ohio State, a head coach at Ohio — and after five seasons at Illinois, he has been at Akron since 2017, leading the Zips to three NCAA tournaments in four years.
March 11
It didn’t take Arizona State long to make a decision on coach Bobby Hurley’s future. Hours after the Sun Devils’ season-ending blowout loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament, the school announced it wasn’t renewing or extending Hurley’s expiring contract and his 11-year tenure had come to an end. It was the expected outcome for most of the past year, with Arizona State missing the NCAA tournament in five of the last six seasons.
Where does the job stack up in the Big 12?
The Big 12 has established itself as a dominant basketball league, finishing as the No. 1 conference at KenPom in nine of the last 13 seasons, and ranking second in three of the other four. The conference routinely sends seven-plus teams to the NCAA tournament and three teams to the Sweet 16 on a regular basis.
Arizona State hasn’t been particularly competitive in recent years and would rank somewhere in the bottom-half of the conference’s head-coaching jobs. There’s been minimal recent success, reaching one Sweet 16 since 1975 — and that came in 1995. It’s been fighting an uphill battle since moving to the Big 12, although its commitment and resources on the football side provide some optimism if the Sun Devils can get it rolling on the hardwood. The location is appealing to plenty of candidates, too.
Who might be in the mix?
There are several directions athletic director Graham Rossini can go to replace Hurley. Two of the more prominent names that have consistently been mentioned over the last few weeks have been Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett and New Mexico’s Eric Olen.
Bennett is a Mesa, Arizona native who has built Saint Mary’s into one of the most successful programs on the West Coast over the last 25 years. The program has been to 11 NCAA tournaments in his tenure, and this should be the Gaels’ fifth straight year going to the Big Dance. He hasn’t previously shown much interest in leaving Saint Mary’s but Gonzaga’s departure from the WCC is a new wrinkle.
While the Lobos struggled down the stretch of Olen’s first regular season at the helm, he showed serious coaching chops at UC San Diego, including leading the Tritons to 30 wins and an NCAA tournament appearance last season. He also has a longstanding relationship with Rossini.
Could popular mid-major names Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State or Josh Schertz from Saint Louis be interested? What about a successful, veteran West Coast coach like UC Irvine’s Russell Turner or Grand Canyon’s Bryce Drew?
There are also a couple of wildcard names. Creighton’s Greg McDermott could be nearing his departure from the Bluejays, already naming Alan Huss as his head-coach-in-waiting last spring. McDermott has long enjoyed spending time in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, so a move could be potentially appealing.
Then there’s UC Santa Barbara assistant Derek Glasser, who played at Arizona State and was a college and high school teammate of former Sun Devil star James Harden. Sources indicate it’s a longshot, but he’ll certainly have his backers.
Syracuse officially informed head coach Adrian Autry of his firing on Wednesday morning after a three-season run. Autry was the successor to Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, who retired in 2023 after 47 years as the head coach of the Orange. A former Syracuse player under Boeheim, Autry spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach on Boeheim’s staff before taking over as head coach.
Who will hire the next coach?
Editor’s note: The following was written before ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Syracuse agreed to terms with Bryan Blair to become its next athletic director.
The firing was not a surprise — the only question was timing, which could also potentially impact the search for a new head coach. Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack announced his retirement last month and plans to leave the school on July 1. Syracuse has not officially announced his replacement yet, though college football Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli is considered the favorite. It has been understood that Wildhack would let Autry go, then the incoming athletic director would make the next hire, although sources told ESPN that Wildhack has been working behind the scenes on the preliminary stages of the search for a few weeks.
What’s the perception of the job?
Boeheim built Syracuse into one of the most consistent and prominent programs in college basketball over his five decades at the helm of the Orange. They went to five Final Fours, won the 2003 national championship and were a staple in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. The March runs papered over the cracks of a program that didn’t finish better than sixth in the ACC in any of Boeheim’s last nine seasons, though, and finished 14th in two of Autry’s three seasons as head coach. They are not a ready-made contender anymore.
That said, the NIL structure has improved, and there were certainly enough resources to put together a talented roster with March expectations entering this season.
What names are worth monitoring?
Three current head coaches stand out: Siena’s Gerry McNamara, Saint Louis’ Josh Schertz and South Florida’s Bryan Hodgson.
McNamara is a Syracuse legend and was on Boeheim’s staff alongside Autry for 12 years before spending one season under Autry as his associate head coach. McNamara just led Siena to the MAAC tournament title and an NCAA tournament bid on Tuesday, taking the Saints to their first Big Dance since 2010. Siena went 4-28 the season before McNamara took over; just two years later, it won 23 games.
Schertz is arguably the most sought-after mid-major coach of the cycle, along with Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun. Schertz built a stellar reputation for himself with multiple Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, then led Indiana State to 32 wins in 2023-24 and now has Saint Louis tracking toward the NCAA tournament this season.
Hodgson is an upstate New York native whose stock has risen dramatically over the past few years. He has won back-to-back regular-season titles the past two seasons, split the Sun Belt title and won 25 games at Arkansas State last season, then won the American in his first season at South Florida.
Another name to watch is UConn assistant Luke Murray, who has been part of two national-championship-winning staffs under Dan Hurley in Storrs. Murray has been credited with helping build UConn’s vaunted offensive system over the past few years.
There have been several names linked to this opening since Boston College fired Earl Grant last Friday. Merrimack’s Joe Gallo, Colgate’s Matt Langel, UConn assistant Luke Murray, Yale’s James Jones, Furman’s Bob Richey and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jay Larranaga are rumored to be in consideration. One dark-horse name also in the mix: Tulsa’s Eric Konkol, who worked with BC athletic director Blake James at Miami.
With Damon Stoudamire out, Belmont’s Casey Alexander and Troy’s Scott Cross have the most perceived momentum for the opening at Tech. Alexander just guided the Bruins to the Missouri Valley regular-season title before losing in the conference tournament, while Cross has the Trojans going to back-to-back NCAA tournaments. Tech deputy AD Brent Jones also overlapped with Cross at Troy. Other names that have been mentioned include Furman’s Bob Richey, Tennessee assistant Justin Gainey, Appalachian State’s Dustin Kerns, former NC State coach Kevin Keatts and George Mason’s Tony Skinn. Long Island Nets coach Mfon Udofia, who played at Tech, has been linked as well.
With the mid-February firing of Jerome Tang, Kansas State is furthest along among the power-conference searches. Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun is considered the favorite for the position — the Ohio native could opt to slow-play his decision and wait to see if the Cincinnati or Pittsburgh roles open and either program expresses interest. Belmont’s Casey Alexander and Creighton associate head coach Alan Huss are also involved. Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson is believed to be on the list as well.
Kim English’s ousting hasn’t been officially announced yet, though the administration has informed him he will not be returning next season. There have been a long list of names linked to this job in recent days, although Santa Clara’s Herb Sendek has been buzzing as a legitimate candidate. Clippers assistant Jay Larranaga, Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun, South Florida’s Bryan Hodgson and Merrimack’s Joe Gallo have also been linked.
What’s next?
The rest of the week could be busy.
With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh winning in their respective conference tournament games on Tuesday, any potential decisions on their futures will have to wait at least another day.
While not definitive, signs at Pittsburgh point to the Panthers parting ways with Jeff Capel after eight seasons. He still has eight figures left on a fully-guaranteed deal, however, which makes the decision more complicated for athletic director Allen Greene. Wes Miller and Cincinnati surged onto the bubble down the stretch of the season — potentially saving his job in the process — but if the Bearcats fall short of the NCAA tournament, a change could be in store.
In addition to the above programs, another handful of schools with hot seat questions play on Wednesday: Memphis, Butler, LSUand Oklahoma. One could make the argument that none of those four programs ends up making a coaching change this spring. Things are trending toward Porter Moser getting another season at Oklahoma, although he could also look to make a move on his own before facing another year on the hot seat in 2026-27. Memphis and Butler are difficult to read, while Matt McMahon’s future at LSU is not quite solidified, either.
More chatter
Michigan assistant Justin Joyner is the heavy favorite at Oregon State.
Top candidates at St. Bonaventure include Daemen College coach Mike MacDonald and Washington Wizards assistant coach David Vanterpool — both former Bonnies.
Little Rockis viewed as a desirable job, with the likes of Southeast Missouri’s Brad Korn, former Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford and DePaul assistant Bryan Mullins all linked to the position.
UL Monroe let go of Phil Cunningham after just one season with the Warhawks defeating only two Division I teams. UAB assistant Ryan Cross and Chipola College coach Donnie Tyndall have the most buzz here.
New Mexico State’s Jason Hooten has been among the names swirling around for the Tarleton State vacancy.
Among the names involved for the UNC Greensboro Spartans job is former Stanford head coach Jerod Haase.
Notorious Latin American narco trafficker Sebastian Marset, who eluded police for years, was handed over to U.S. authorities after his arrest Friday in Bolivia.
Marset, a Uruguayan national who was on the U.S.’ most-wanted fugitives list, was passed to agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration at Santa Cruz airport, then put on a U.S. airplane, state television showed.
“The arrest and deportation were carried out pursuant to a court order issued by the U.S. justice system,” Marco Antonio Oviedo, a senior minister, told reporters.
The kingpin was arrested in an upscale neighborhood of Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s economic capital, in an operation that mobilized hundreds of police officers, an AFP journalist witnessed.
Four other people were arrested in the raids, which come days after Bolivia and 16 other countries joined an anti-cartel military alliance launched by President Trump.
Marset, who is the most notorious drug baron in the southern part of South America, had a $2 million U.S. bounty on his head for alleged money laundering. An indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges Marset “leads a large-scale drug trafficking organization that is believed to be responsible for moving ton quantities of cocaine from South America to Europe, while generating tens of millions in cash and proceeds,” according to the DEA.
Notorious Latin American narco trafficker Sebastian Marset, who eluded police for years, was handed over to U.S. authorities after his arrest Friday in Bolivia.
DEA
The soccer-loving 34-year-old laundered the proceeds of his drug enterprise by purchasing and sponsoring lower-level professional soccer teams across Latin America and Europe and even put himself in the starting lineups.
He was imprisoned in his native Uruguay for drug trafficking between 2013 and 2018 and later moved around South America, living for a time in Bolivia and also Paraguay.
Both those countries had also issued warrants for his arrest.
The United States issued a reward for his capture last year after what it called “the largest and most consequential organized crime investigation against cocaine trafficking in Paraguayan history.”
Marset is accused of leading a criminal network that imported more than 16 tons of cocaine into Europe.
The Paraguayan investigation reportedly revealed him asking advice in text messages on how to disappear the bodies of murdered enemies.
Imitating soccer stars
A Washington Post profile from 2024 said Marset paid $10,000 in cash to wear the number 10 jersey worn by football icons Pele, Maradona and Messi during his teams’ games.
He stamped his drug shipments “The King of the South,” the Post added, and gave orders for cocaine to be stashed in shipments of cookies and soybeans.
He had been on the run since July 2023, when fled his home in Santa Cruz, on the eve of a massive police operation to capture him.
Bolivia’s center-right President Rodrigo Paz thanked “international organizations from various neighboring countries and the continent” on Friday for their cooperation in his capture.
Bolivian security authorities carry out an operation to arrest alleged Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastian Marset, accused of leading the First Uruguayan Cartel and wanted by Interpol for organized crime and money laundering charges, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, March 13, 2026.
Ipa Ibanez/REUTERS
Paz has sought to boost ties with the United States since winning office last year in elections that ended two decades of socialist rule begun under Indigenous coca farmer Evo Morales.
Bolivia’s is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine, which is made from coca leaves.
Marset is the second Latin American narco boss to be killed or captured in under a month.
U.S. intelligence contributed to his capture.
The arrest comes just weeks after notorious cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” was killed during an operation in the western state of Jalisco. He had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and was killed in a military shootout.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Texico boys basketball team’s goal of back-to-back championships is alive and well. On Friday afternoon, Wolverines took down Mesilla Valley Christian 62-45 to clinch their spot in the title game. The Wolverines were dominant on the glass with 39 rebounds compared to 28 from the Sonblazers. Texico also racked up 19 […]
Gold-certified Southern metal stalwarts Corrosion Of Conformity have officially brought on Nick Shabatura as their new drummer, following the departure of Stanton Moore. Shabatura landed the role with a recommendation from Charlie Benante, adding a fresh dynamic to the band’s rhythm section.
Shabatura’s arrival has the full blessing of Moore, who commented on social media on March 13: “I approve this message! I went by rehearsals in Riffississippi the other day to meet and hang with Nick. He is an amazing drummer and a super cool guy. He showed up having completely done his homework and already sounds great playing with the band.
“The plan was always for me to make this record with the guys and then to find somebody to do the touring. Well, we found the guy and he is Nick Shabatura!”
The band is gearing up for the release of their new double album, Good God / Baad Man, set for April 3, 2026. The upcoming record follows the band’s recent single “You Or Me” and is expected to showcase their signature Southern metal sound alongside some fresh energy with Shabatura on drums.
Corrosion of Conformity are returning to stages across North America this spring with a headlining tour featuring support from Whores and Crobot. The run kicks off April 7 in Atlanta and April 8 in Greensboro with Whores opening, before the band joins Clutch and JD Pinkus from April 9 through May 3, culminating in Asheville.
Following the Clutch dates, Corrosion of Conformity reconvenes with Whores in Toronto and Montreal, with Crobot joining the lineup for all remaining shows through May 16 in New Orleans. Fans can expect a mix of classic hits alongside material from the band’s forthcoming double album, set for release later this year via Nuclear Blast Records. Get your tickets here.
4/7 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade (w/ Whores) 4/8 Greensboro, NC The Pyrle (w/ Whores) 4/9 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/11 Worcester, MA The Palladium (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/12 Rochester, NY Kodak Center Theater (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/14 Chesterfield, MO The Factory (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/15 Lexington, KY Manchester Music Hall (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/17 North Kansas City, MO VooDoo at Harrah’s (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/18 Sioux City, IA Anthem at Hard Rock (w/ Clutch) 4/19 Sioux Falls, SD The District (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/21 Grand Junction, CO Mesa Theater (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/22 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall (COC only) 4/23 Boise, ID Treefort Music Hall (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/24 Reno, NV Cargo Concert Hall (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/25 Las Vegas, NV Sick New World 4/27 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/28 Midland, TX The Horseshoe (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 4/29 San Antonio, TX The Aztec Theatre (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 5/1 Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 5/2 Chattanooga, TN The Signal (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 5/3 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel (w/ Clutch & JD Pinkus) 5/5 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre (w/ Whores) 5/6 Montreal, QC Fairmount Theatre (w/ Whores) 5/7 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/8 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/9 Millvale, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/10 Lakewood, OH The Roxy (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/12 Flint, MI The Machine Shop (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/13 Grand Rapids, MI The Pyramid Scheme (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/14 Chicago, IL Outset (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/15 Nashville, TN Cannery Hall (w/ Whores & Crobot) 5/16 New Orleans, LA Tipitina’s (w/ Clutch)
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A second-round Big 12 Tournament collapse against UCF proved to be the fatal final mistake for Wes Miller’s career at Cincinnati. Bearcats athletic director John Cunningham has decided to fire Miller, a source told CBS Sports, two days removed from UC’s 66-65 overtime loss to the Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Cincinnati led UCF by eight points with a little more than two minutes remaining and spilled away the victory, ultimately blowing its last possession both in regulation and overtime to fall to 18-15 and end their chances on the bubble.
The plan is for the formal separation to go official on April 1, when Miller’s buyout drops from $9.9 million to $4.7 million, according to a source. There is no formal announcement of Miller’s firing expected in the upcoming days.
Big 12 to swap LED glass court for hardwood floor for rest of basketball tournament after players complain
Matt Norlander
Miller’s record through five seasons was 100-74. After the game, Miller said the following when asked by CBS Sports about the state of the program and why he believes he deserves a sixth season.
“I’m really proud. Really, really proud,” Miller said. “What we’ve done here: took the job while there was a lawsuit going on with the previous coach. Our players are getting subpoenaed on game days in Year 1, NIL, the transfer portal happened, and a move to the Big 12. I’m really, really proud. We have never been anything but competitive, and we’ve been on the bubble multiple years. I’m really proud of the work that we’ve done. We’re Cincinnati. We need to be in the NCAA Tournament. I understand that as much as anybody, but we are in the right direction of building something — we built something that I believe is now sustainable.”
Unfortunately for Miller, he will not get the chance. Cunningham’s decision is in line with what sources expressed a few weeks ago: The Bearcats would need to make the NCAA Tournament in order to save Miller’s job. He went 0 for 5 when it came to qualifying for the Big Dance.
The UC fan base has been aching to be consistently competitive on a national level, but splitting from Miller will not assure anything, alas. The Big 12 is an extremely tough league to adapt to and it’s going to take the right hire and the right time to get the program back into the national landscape. Utah State‘s Jerrod Calhoun is the immediate frontrunner for the vacancy, sources said. Calhoun went to Cincinnati and is 52-14 in the past two seasons with the Aggies.
If Calhoun winds up being the guy, that’s going to take some time: Utah State has at least a week before its season is over, as the Aggies are safely in the NCAAs and a projected No. 8 seed in Friday’s bracketology forecast.
