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.
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TotalEnergies Shutting Production in Qatar, Iraq Amid Fighting in Middle East
Tracking the latest men’s college basketball coaching carousel buzz
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Jeff Borzello
Multiple Authors
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.
More openings
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, LSU and 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
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Michigan assistant Justin Joyner is the heavy favorite at Oregon State.
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Top candidates at St. Bonaventure include Daemen College coach Mike MacDonald and Washington Wizards assistant coach David Vanterpool — both former Bonnies.
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Little Rock is 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.
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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.
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New Mexico State’s Jason Hooten has been among the names swirling around for the Tarleton State vacancy.
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Among the names involved for the UNC Greensboro Spartans job is former Stanford head coach Jerod Haase.
Top Latin American drug kingpin wanted by U.S. is arrested in Bolivia, put on American plane
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.
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.
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.
Defending champion Texico returns to title game
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 […]
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CORROSION OF CONFORMITY Welcome NICK SHABATURA As New Drummer
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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Opinion | Advice to Trump: Leave the Oil Market Alone
Government controls were responsible for the crises in the 1970s.
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Cincinnati to fire Wes Miller: Bearcats coach out after 5 seasons, no NCAA Tournament bids
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.
Ethiopia declares 3 days of mourning after landslides in the south kill 80 people
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia on Tuesday declared three days of mourning as the death toll from this week’s landslides in the country’s south climbed to 80.
Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo said the three days of mourning would begin Saturday.
At least 80 bodies have been recovered from the Gamo Zone area in southern Ethiopia where landslides triggered by heavy rains killed dozens of residents.
Many other people remained missing since the tragedy struck the Gamo Zone area on Tuesday, officials said. Search and recovery efforts have taken place for days and have been hampered by heavy rain still pounding the area.
Regional government communications head Hailemariam Tesfaye said that the search for remaining victims was intensified.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Friday said that 3,461 people were displaced by the landslides.
The Government Communication Service said Thursday the government is mobilizing resources in coordination with regional authorities.
Donations from private citizens and business organizations are flowing into a fund announced by the regional government to provide relief items to those affected.
Heavy rains have pounded countries in East Africa, and in neighboring Kenya the death toll from Saturday’s flash floods rose to 62.
The region is expected to see more rain given the rainy season and governments have urged residents to exercise caution.
Last month, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre said the March–April–May rainy season has a 45% chance of above-average rainfall across most countries in the region, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Northern Somalia, and Djibouti.
Old Dominion shooter convicted of Islamic State ties
Court documents show less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released from prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State, he opened fire in a classroom at Virginia’s Old Dominion University on Thursday before ROTC students subdued and killed him.The shooting that left one person dead and another two injured has raised questions about why Jalloh, who the FBI identified as the gunman, was imprisoned and the conditions of his release — with some elected officials questioning how someone with known ties to the Islamic State was able to carry out such an attack.Video above: Old Dominion University student describes ‘terrifying’ moments during shooting“The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODU’s campus never should have happened,” U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the congressional district neighboring the university, wrote on Facebook.After Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization — the Islamic State group — a federal judge sentenced him in 2017 to an 11-year prison term with credit for time served retroactive to his July 2016 arrest.Jalloh was released from federal custody Dec. 23, 2024. He was granted an early release — about 2 1/2 years into his sentence — after completing a drug treatment program, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.It wasn’t clear how Jalloh qualified for the program, which allows inmates to shave up to a year off their sentences. Inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses typically aren’t eligible for such programs or other sentence-reducing credits.A message seeking information about Jalloh’s incarceration and release was left with the federal Bureau of Prisons.He was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation, when he carried out the attack on Thursday. Based on his release date, that would’ve run into 2029.Confessions to undercover agentsJalloh’s October 2016 plea came after a three-month sting operation in which he, then 26, confessed to an undercover FBI agent that he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead. Authorities launched the 2016 operation after Jalloh made contact with Islamic State members in Africa earlier that year.Jalloh later told the informant that the Islamic State group had asked if he wanted to participate in an attack. He tried to donate $500 to the group, but the money actually went to an account controlled by the FBI, according to court documents.Jalloh then tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle from a Virginia gun store but was turned away because he lacked the proper paperwork. The affidavit says he returned the next day and bought a different assault rifle. Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh. He was arrested the following day.Debate over sentencingThe Justice Department in 2017 requested a 20-year prison sentence for Jalloh, noting that he had made multiple attempts to join the Islamic State and had attempted to acquire a gun to carry out a murder plot.“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.They added: “By putting the idea of this murder plot into religious terms, and by suggesting that murdering members of the US military would be a path to heaven, the defendant showed how strongly committed he was to the deadly ideology” of the Islamic State.Jalloh’s lawyers asked for a sentence of 6½ years in prison and requested that he be placed in a facility that provides residential drug treatment for inmates with addiction and substance abuse issues.U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, sentenced him instead to 11 years in prison.The judge also ordered Jalloh to participate in a program for substance abuse testing and treatment and mental health treatment, and requested that he be evaluated for the federal prison system’s residential drug program.Completing the Residential Drug Abuse Program can reduce an inmate’s prison sentence by up to a year, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. It wasn’t immediately clear if Jalloh qualified for the program. Normally, inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses aren’t eligible.In addition, some inmates who stay out of trouble in prison can reduce their sentence by earning up to 54 days of good conduct time credit for each year of their sentence. However, under the 2018 prison reform law known as the First Step Act, inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses are not eligible for such credit.Troubled shooter lured by radical clericLittle is publicly known about Jalloh, who was a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone. But court documents depict him as a troubled man who was radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki, a well-known American imam who became an al-Qaida propagandist.The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed he served as a specialist from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged. Jalloh told a government informant he quit the National Guard after hearing lectures from al-Awlaki, according to a 2016 FBI affidavit filed in his criminal case.In a letter to the federal judge that presided over his sentencing, Jalloh wrote: “I feel deep regret in having been driven by my emotions rather than my intellect and becoming involved with such an evil organization. … I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL.”He wrote that he started using drugs after his girlfriend ended their six-year relationship.“The pain I felt internally was unbearable, and drugs and alcohol were the only things that took that pain away,” Jalloh wrote. “I started doing marijuana, coke and mushrooms using one of them at least on a daily basis in order to kill the pain I was in and to fill in the void I felt internally.”The letter itself remains under seal, but his lawyer included excerpts of it in his sentencing memorandum.
NORFOLK, Va. —
Court documents show less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released from prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State, he opened fire in a classroom at Virginia’s Old Dominion University on Thursday before ROTC students subdued and killed him.
The shooting that left one person dead and another two injured has raised questions about why Jalloh, who the FBI identified as the gunman, was imprisoned and the conditions of his release — with some elected officials questioning how someone with known ties to the Islamic State was able to carry out such an attack.
Video above: Old Dominion University student describes ‘terrifying’ moments during shooting
“The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODU’s campus never should have happened,” U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the congressional district neighboring the university, wrote on Facebook.
After Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization — the Islamic State group — a federal judge sentenced him in 2017 to an 11-year prison term with credit for time served retroactive to his July 2016 arrest.
Jalloh was released from federal custody Dec. 23, 2024. He was granted an early release — about 2 1/2 years into his sentence — after completing a drug treatment program, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
It wasn’t clear how Jalloh qualified for the program, which allows inmates to shave up to a year off their sentences. Inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses typically aren’t eligible for such programs or other sentence-reducing credits.
A message seeking information about Jalloh’s incarceration and release was left with the federal Bureau of Prisons.
He was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation, when he carried out the attack on Thursday. Based on his release date, that would’ve run into 2029.
Confessions to undercover agents
Jalloh’s October 2016 plea came after a three-month sting operation in which he, then 26, confessed to an undercover FBI agent that he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead. Authorities launched the 2016 operation after Jalloh made contact with Islamic State members in Africa earlier that year.
Jalloh later told the informant that the Islamic State group had asked if he wanted to participate in an attack. He tried to donate $500 to the group, but the money actually went to an account controlled by the FBI, according to court documents.
Jalloh then tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle from a Virginia gun store but was turned away because he lacked the proper paperwork. The affidavit says he returned the next day and bought a different assault rifle. Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh. He was arrested the following day.
Debate over sentencing
The Justice Department in 2017 requested a 20-year prison sentence for Jalloh, noting that he had made multiple attempts to join the Islamic State and had attempted to acquire a gun to carry out a murder plot.
“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
They added: “By putting the idea of this murder plot into religious terms, and by suggesting that murdering members of the US military would be a path to heaven, the defendant showed how strongly committed he was to the deadly ideology” of the Islamic State.
Jalloh’s lawyers asked for a sentence of 6½ years in prison and requested that he be placed in a facility that provides residential drug treatment for inmates with addiction and substance abuse issues.
U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, sentenced him instead to 11 years in prison.
The judge also ordered Jalloh to participate in a program for substance abuse testing and treatment and mental health treatment, and requested that he be evaluated for the federal prison system’s residential drug program.
Completing the Residential Drug Abuse Program can reduce an inmate’s prison sentence by up to a year, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. It wasn’t immediately clear if Jalloh qualified for the program. Normally, inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses aren’t eligible.
In addition, some inmates who stay out of trouble in prison can reduce their sentence by earning up to 54 days of good conduct time credit for each year of their sentence. However, under the 2018 prison reform law known as the First Step Act, inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses are not eligible for such credit.
Troubled shooter lured by radical cleric
Little is publicly known about Jalloh, who was a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone. But court documents depict him as a troubled man who was radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki, a well-known American imam who became an al-Qaida propagandist.
The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed he served as a specialist from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged. Jalloh told a government informant he quit the National Guard after hearing lectures from al-Awlaki, according to a 2016 FBI affidavit filed in his criminal case.
In a letter to the federal judge that presided over his sentencing, Jalloh wrote: “I feel deep regret in having been driven by my emotions rather than my intellect and becoming involved with such an evil organization. … I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL.”
He wrote that he started using drugs after his girlfriend ended their six-year relationship.
“The pain I felt internally was unbearable, and drugs and alcohol were the only things that took that pain away,” Jalloh wrote. “I started doing marijuana, coke and mushrooms using one of them at least on a daily basis in order to kill the pain I was in and to fill in the void I felt internally.”
The letter itself remains under seal, but his lawyer included excerpts of it in his sentencing memorandum.
Bunnie Xo On Jelly Roll’s Reaction To Book: He Hasn’t Read It!
Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie Xo support each other’s careers, just not in the traditional way. The podcast host-turned-author was asked if Jelly was surprised by anything she shared.
He wasn’t, but not because he knew it all.
- Bunnie Xo’s Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic became a New York Times bestseller after its release last month.
- The podcast host and social media influencer shared her story, including details about her troubled childhood, early-life trauma, addiction, sex work and arrests.
- On Thursday (March 12), she learned the rights to the book were purchased by 101 Studios, who plan to fast-track a movie.
Related: Bunnie Xo Names the Actor She Hopes Will Play Her In the Movie
“I don’t think my husband’s read the book,” Bunnie tells Kimmel. “He had to live with me and also, what man wants to hear about his wife before?”
“I think he kind of fibs a little bit and is like, ‘Oh, yeah I read the book’ … I think he’s taken like Cliffs Notes from people.”
Don’t feel bad because that knife cuts two ways.
Jelly Roll + Bunnie Xo’s Relationship Timeline
Bunnie Xo met Jelly Roll at a Moonshine Bandits concert in Las Vegas in 2015. Her future husband was the opening act and at some point he took Bunnie to his van to smoke.
“It was this big brown van that was so disgusting,” she tells the TV host. “It had a mattress and crumbs and it was gross. And I fell in love.”
One year later they’d get married but trouble would find them a few years after that. Jelly Roll had an affair (details are in the book) and they separated. Soon after they reconciled and began work on themselves and their marriage.
By 2020, Jelly Roll began having success in mainstream country music and within a few years Bunnie’s Dumb Blonde podcast and other business ventures took off to the point that she could close her page on OnlyFans. They’ve been country music’s most identifiable couple since.
Jelly Roll’s Stunning Weight Loss Journey in 29 Pictures
Jelly Roll once weighed over 500 pounds, but as of January 2026, he’s close to 250. His weight loss journey wasn’t linear, however. These 29 pictures show how he put weight on and dropped in at various stages of his life, dating back to 2011.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
8 Bombshell Revelations We Learned From Bunnie Xo’s Book
Bunnie Xo’s memoir, ‘Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic,’ lays out a full timeline of her life and answers burning questions that fans have been asking for years. Below, we’ve rounded up the most shocking anecdotes and revelations from the book. Consider this your spoiler alert!
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak