Freezing temperatures are likely for parts of western, northern, and central New Mexico Saturday morning. Quiet weather moves in for Easter weekend. A couple of cold fronts have been moving south into New Mexico Friday, dropping high temperatures a couple degrees to over 10° today along and north of I-40. Temperatures are warmer today in […]
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Freeze Saturday morning, then quiet weather for Easter weekend
Drivers Celebrate the Demise of the Most Hated Feature in Their Cars
The stop-start feature helps lower emissions—and raises Americans’ aggravation. This year, haters found their champion in Trump.
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Geno Auriemma, Dawn Staley get into heated exchange after UConn’s Final Four loss: What we know
South Carolina’s stunning upset win over UConn in the Final Four on Friday night was overshadowed by a bizarre incident between Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley and Huskies coach Geno Auriemma — two of the all-time greats — just before the final buzzer.
The Gamecocks were up by 14 and running out the clock. Before UConn inbounded the ball to officially end the game, however, Auriemma started walking toward the South Carolina bench. As he passed by Staley, tempers suddenly flared.
Both parties had to be held back by their respective coaching staffs and the officials, and the game was slightly delayed. When the game finally did end, Auriemma walked off without acknowledging anyone on the South Carolina side.
ESPN reporter Kareem Copleland captured a courtside video in which Dawn Staley appears to say “I will beat Geno’s ass” after the two were separated.
Staley, in a postgame interview with ESPN, said she thought maybe Auriemma was upset about a lack of pregame handshake between the two coaches. The two did shake hands at some point pregame, but Auriemma waited for another handshake right before tip-off and never got one.
“I have no idea. But I’m gonna let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity,” Staley said. “So if I did something wrong to Geno — I don’t know what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand. I don’t know what he came with after the game. Sometimes, things get heated. We move on.”
Added Auriemma: “For 41 years I’ve been coaching and, I don’t know, 25 Final Fours,” he said. “The protocol is before the game, you meet at halfcourt. Anybody see that before? Two coaches meet at halfcourt and they shake hands, correct? Ever see it? They announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three minutes. So it is what it is.”
When asked about the fact that the two did shake hands, Auriemma dismissed the question.
“No, I think you missed the point of what I’m talking about, so… I’d rather not go into it,” Auriemma said. “Anybody that’s been in the NCAA tournament, you know what I’m talking about.”
Staley didn’t want to take away from her team’s accomplishment after the game.
“You can ask Geno the question. He’s the one that initiated the conversation,” Staley said during her press conference. “I don’t want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today.”
Auriemma’s frustration started well before his confrontation with Staley. During his interview with Holly Rowe between the third and fourth quarters, Auriemma ranted about the refs and called out Staley’s behavior on the sideline.
After the game, Auriemma kept up his complaints.
“There were six fouls called that quarter – all of them against us. And they’ve been beating the shit out of our guys down there the entire game. And I’m not making excuses because we haven’t been able to make a shot, but this is ridiculous,” Auriemma said. “Their coach [Staley] rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referees some names you don’t want to hear. And now we get six to zero and I’ve a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, ‘I didn’t see it.’ C’mon man. This is for the national championship.”
Auriemma closed his press conference by circling back to his thoughts about the officiating and Staley’s sideline conduct.
“I just want to make sure there’s not a double standard,” Auriemma said. “I’m of the opinion that if I ever talk to an official like that, I would get tossed. So I just want to make sure there’s not a double standard, that some people are allowed to talk to officials like that and other people are not. That’s it. So yeah, I was pretty frustrated.”
UConn’s stunning loss ended the Huskies’ perfect season, their 54-game winning streak (which was tied for the fourth-longest all time) and their quest for back-to-back championships. No team has won back-to-back titles since UConn won four in a row from 2013-16.
South Carolina will play UCLA in the national championship on Sunday. This is the Gamecocks’ third consecutive appearance in the national championship game, and they are seeking their fourth title under Staley.
China’s Communist Party investigates ex-Xinjiang leader Ma Xingrui
BANGKOK — The disciplinary body for China ‘s Communist Party said Friday it has placed the former Xinjiang party chief under investigation over suspected violations of discipline and law.
Ma Xingrui is a member of the party’s Central Committee and served as party secretary of the Xinjiang region in China’s northwest from 2021-2025. He also previously served as director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and deputy party chief in Guangdong province.
It was unclear what violations Ma allegedly committed. Ma is the latest senior official to be removed from power this year. China’s Xi Jinping removed the top general in charge of the country’s military in January.
Ma was replaced by Chen Xiaojiang last July as party chief of Xinjiang, a region that had become well-known internationally for a yearslong campaign of extrajudicial detentions.
China had detained a million or more minorities, including ethnic Uyghur Muslims, saying it was in response to a series of attacks by a small number of Uyghur extremists
By 2021, when Ma had become secretary, China said it had shut most of the detention centers. But at least a few camp sites had been converted into prison-like centers, and information leaked to the AP showed that thousands of Uyghurs were thrown into prison with long sentences on what experts called trumped-up charges.
In March, China passed a law that experts say cements its assimilationist approach towards its ethnic minority groups, building on years of policy changes at the provincial level in Xinjiang and elsewhere.
UCLA beats Texas, advances to women’s championship game
UCLA beats Texas, advances to women’s NCAA Tournament championship game
UCLA beats Texas 51-44 and advances to face South Carolina in the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game.UCLA held on to a three-point lead at the halftime break after what was a very low-scoring first half. The Bruins opened the game on a 14-6 burst in the first quarter, while holding the Longhorns to just three made field goals in the opening period. Texas was held scoreless for more than four minutes during that stretch, too.But Texas rallied back and held UCLA to just six points in the second quarter to get within a possession. Lauren Betts played a massive part in the Bruins’ defensive stand, holding Texas to 1-of-8 from the field when she was contesting their shots.It was the lowest-scoring half by each team all season.
PHOENIX —
UCLA beats Texas 51-44 and advances to face South Carolina in the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game.
UCLA held on to a three-point lead at the halftime break after what was a very low-scoring first half. The Bruins opened the game on a 14-6 burst in the first quarter, while holding the Longhorns to just three made field goals in the opening period. Texas was held scoreless for more than four minutes during that stretch, too.
But Texas rallied back and held UCLA to just six points in the second quarter to get within a possession. Lauren Betts played a massive part in the Bruins’ defensive stand, holding Texas to 1-of-8 from the field when she was contesting their shots.
It was the lowest-scoring half by each team all season.
Fuel Surcharges Hit Small Businesses as ‘Tariffs 2.0’
Steven Mazur has spent the past year figuring out how to absorb about half a million dollars in additional tariffs without dramatically raising prices at his men’s clothing brand, Ash & Erie.
Now, Mazur is getting hit with another unexpected cost in the form of higher shipping rates due to skyrocketing fuel prices.
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Sources: NBA investigating Bucks after Giannis says he’s healthy
The NBA is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks for their handling of the player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have told league investigators different stories. Antetokounmpo has informed the Bucks and the NBA that he wants to play, but the team will not medically clear him, sources told Charania. Milwaukee informed the league that it doesn’t believe Antetokounmpo is ready and actually wants to play, sources said.
Antetokounmpo, who has not played since he hyperextended his left knee against the Pacers on March 15, spoke to reporters before Friday’s 133-101 loss to the Boston Celtics in Milwaukee and reiterated he is healthy and ready to play.
“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.”
Antetokounmpo missed his 10th straight game Friday night because of a hyperextended knee and bone bruise. A few days after the injury, sources told Charania that the Bucks wanted to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season and that he refused the team’s request and wanted to play again this season.
The National Basketball Players Association issued a rebuke of the Bucks late last month, with a statement implying Milwaukee is “tanking” and damaging the league’s integrity.
The Bucks were eliminated from postseason contention March 28, marking the first time since 2016 that they will miss the playoffs.
The league has interviewed Antetokounmpo, the Bucks and team doctors, sources told ESPN.
“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. “So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
Antetokounmpo, 31, has appeared in 36 games this season, by far the fewest he has played in any season of his career. He has dealt with two calf strains, an adductor strain and a knee hyperextension this season.
Since he was injured March 15, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks have not approached him about playing again. Coach Doc Rivers said last week that Antetokounmpo had not practiced. But before home games, Antetokounmpo has been going through his usual pregame routine, working up the intensity in those workouts to make a statement, according to team sources.
The Bucks have five regular-season games remaining.
Information from ESPN’s Jamal Collier was used in this report.
Geno Auriemma, Dawn Staley have heated exchange after Gamecocks upset Huskies
Two of women’s basketball’s biggest names had a heated exchange in the waning moments of a Final Four classic on Friday.
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In the final seconds of No. 1 South Carolina’s 62-48 upset over No. 1 Connecticut, Huskies coach Geno Auriemma and Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley traded words at midcourt and had to be separated.
“I have no idea,” Staley said to ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game when asked what angered Auriemma. “But [I’ll] let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game.”
Staley added: “I didn’t know, I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand, I don’t know what he came with after the game. But hey, sometimes things get heated, we move on.”
ESPN’s broadcast showed footage of Staley appearing to shake Auriemma’s hand before the game, though it was brief.
When asked about the exchange postgame, Auriemma said it was customary for coaches to meet at halfcourt prior to the game. A separate clip from the broadcast showed Auriemma waiting for Staley at a different time before the game.
“The protocol is, before the game, you meet at halfcourt,” Auriemma said. “The two coaches meet at halfcourt and they shake hands. They announce it on the loud speaker. I waited there for like three minutes.”
He added: “I said what I said, and obviously she didn’t like it. I just told the truth.”
Auriemma was not only fired up after the game. During an interview with Rowe before the fourth quarter, he ripped the game’s officiating, declaring the free-throw disparity “ridiculous.” He also implied that Staley had used inappropriate language with the referees but wasn’t punished for it.
“There were 6 fouls called that quarter. All of ‘em against us,” Auriemma said before the fourth. “This is ridiculous. Their coach rants and raves on the sideline, and calls the referees some names you don’t want to hear.”
Connecticut’s loss was the program’s first since February 2025. The Huskies entered the game on a 54-game winning streak. Connecticut won last year’s national championship against Staley and South Carolina.
'Clean Fuel Credit System' promises cleaner air in New Mexico but raises cost concerns
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Environment Department launched a new program aimed at decreasing air pollution by incentivizing innovation in the clean fuels industry. Officials expect that in the coming years, it will lead to more cleaner options at the gas pump, improved air quality, and community health–especially respiratory illness rates. Michelle Miano, NMED’s […]
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South Carolina Baby Boutique Owner Arrested 15 Times in Scam Case
A South Carolina baby boutique is now at the center of a growing investigation spanning multiple counties.
Authorities say dozens of customers paid for items they never received — and the woman behind the business has been arrested 15 times in just a few months.
What started as a handful of complaints has quickly turned into something much larger.
A Boutique Under Scrutiny
Pamela Brooke Schronce, who owns Thomas & Turner Boutique in Belton, markets her business as a “boutique for trendy little babies,” offering custom-designed clothing through social media and online orders.
Read More: Woman Accused of Fraud Thought She Was Working for Florida Georgia Line, Chase Rice
But law enforcement agencies across South Carolina say many customers never received what they paid for — or a refund.
According to Us Weekly, the allegations span at least eight counties, with investigators pointing to a growing number of complaints tied to the business.
Arrests Keep Adding Up
Schronce was most recently arrested on April 2 in Greenville County on five counts of obtaining property valued at $2,000 or less under false pretenses, according to court records.
Read More: Texas Influencers Promised Dream Homes — and Scammed Families Out of $5 Million
It marked her 15th arrest since January 1, 2026. Records show she later bonded out of jail, with bond set at $5,000.
The first complaints date back to December 2025, when a customer reported spending $360 on items that never arrived.
“The victim, like all the others, tried repeatedly to get an answer … but was eventually blocked,” Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said.
A Case Spanning Multiple Counties
As complaints grew, so did the number of charges. Schronce has faced multiple arrests across several counties, including Cherokee, Newberry and Anderson, with additional warrants issued as more alleged victims came forward.
Read More: WhistlinDiesel’s Legal Trouble Isn’t Over — Second Arrest Raises New Questions
In Anderson County alone, investigators say more than 50 people reported similar experiences.
“Detectives say she repeatedly provided fabricated excuses to explain the missing deliveries,” the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies Lining Up to Make Arrests
With cases filed in multiple jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies have had to coordinate how and when to arrest Schronce.
Officials say the situation became so unusual that deputies from different counties were effectively waiting their turn to serve warrants.
The case now involves agencies across the state, with prosecutors working to determine how to move forward given the number of charges.
What Happens Next
Despite the growing list of allegations, the legal process is still in its early stages.
Schronce’s attorney, Joy C. Davis, told Us Weekly that she is “looking forward to her day in court,” while also waiting for evidence from multiple agencies involved in the case.
For now, investigators continue to sort through complaints as more details emerge.
Country Stars With Their Own Bars + Restaurants
Of all of the side hustles country artists could partake in, opening a bar or restaurant is the most fitting — and very common. After all, many of these stars got their start on a barstool, tip jar nearby, playing their music for anyone who would listen.
These places feel like home for many of these singers. Over the years, several artists have gotten into the bar or restaurant game, and for a select few, brands have turned into franchises with several locations and/or concepts — we’re looking at you, Jimmy Buffett!
Let’s take a look at the country star food and entertainment venues that have opened over the years.
Gallery Credit: Jess