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Repeat champs in MAC are rare; Broncos hope to do just that

(AP) — Western Michigan is a rarity in today's college football universe. The Mid-American Conference champions are chasing a second straight league crown with some familiar names: quarterback Broc Lowry, the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Jalen Buckley, the championship game MVP, and cornerback Jarvarius Smith. In fact, reigning MAC coach of the Year Lance Taylor boasts he didn't lose a single starter in the transfer portal. That's not easy for any program, especially one like Western Michigan, and it's the primary reason it is the preseason favorite. "We ...

Lawrence gets interception in Bengals joint practice

CINCINNATI (AP) — In the most extensive action that the Cincinnati Bengals will get before the start of the regular season, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence made his presence felt with an interception, several pressures and a terrific performance in a joint practice against the Chicago Bears ...

Democrats’ Southern strategy (syndicated column for 8/20)

Don't believe the Democratic National Committee's official storyline -- the DNC's decision to make South Carolina the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028 isn't about introducing more racial diversity into the early contests. It's actually about keeping power in the hands of the party establishment, the people who backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, and who are likely to wind up supporting Kamala Harris in 2028. The fix is in. South Carolina was the establishment's firewall against Bernie Sanders' left-wing insurgency twice over. In 2016, Sanders ...

Ohio lawmaker pushes for local hearings before PUCO decides on Dayton utility purchase

Ohio state Rep. Tristan Rader wants state regulators to take a close look at a plan to purchase Dayton’s electric utility, AES. The $10.7 billion deal would take the utility private — putting it in the hands of a group with few ties to the region and investments that might cause conflicts of interest down the road. Rader, D-Lakewood, wants the Public Utility Commission of Ohio to hold hearings in AES’ service territory to allow ratepayers, local governments, and other stakeholders to weigh in before making a final decision. “This is a consequential decision for the future of ...

In a world of AOCs, be a Leavitt (syndicated column for 8/20)

Even famous and successful women can't avoid the reality of trade-offs. Earlier this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced on Instagram that she is freezing her eggs. The 36-year-old congresswoman even gave herself an injection on camera. AOC told her followers that she would have to give herself another round of shots before her upcoming appearance on ABC's "This Week." "I want you all to see that, because women can do anything," she said. "And I think it's badass that I'm gonna be, you know, giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out, talk ...

RoundUp

Trump picks Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has picked Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton is a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and a trusted figure in Trump's administration. Overton has worked on several of Trump's health initiatives. But the new FDA commissioner will face challenges balancing Trump's priorities, traditional Republican interests and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-corporate stance. Overton will need ...