Barbie has had many jobs throughout the years like astronaut, chef & fashion designer! Now, she’s going to be add Queen of Christmas to her resume! Mariah Carey is officially getting her own Barbie this year in her classic sparkly red dress! Maybe she’ll sing All I Want For Christmas Is You!!
Image: (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
DETROIT (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 46.6 seconds left and finished with 27 points, Jalen Brunson had 32 points and 11 assists and the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 94-93 on Sunday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had 25 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first playoff triple-double but missed two shots and turned the ball over in the final 1:07.
Tim Hardaway Jr. shot a 3-pointer just before the buzzer and drew some light contact from New York’s Josh Hart that wasn’t called a foul at the end of a physical game with few whistles from the officials.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in New York.
The Pistons have lost nine straight home playoff games since 2008, equaling an NBA record set by Philadelphia from 1968 to 1971.
The Knicks expected Detroit’s best punch, then came out swinging.
Towns scored in the post and had a block, OG Anunoby had a block in the opening minute and New York went on a 14-2 run to take a 10-point lead midway through the first quarter.
The Knicks’ smothering defense forced six turnovers and scored 10 points off them to take a 29-19 lead after the first quarter.
New York led by as much as 16 points in the second quarter before the Pistons went on an 11-0 run to help them pull within seven at halftime.
In the third, when Detroit outscored the Knicks 28-14 to take a seven-point lead, Cunningham was the best player on the court.
He had 12 points — making 6 of 7 shots — five assists, five rebounds and three blocks.
The Knicks had a scare late in the third when Brunson limped off the court and toward the locker room with an apparent right knee injury, but he returned to form in the fourth in the closely contested quarter.
Detroit was without Isaiah Stewart for a third straight game because of a knee injury and coach J.B. Bickerstaff said it would be really difficult for the rugged center to return in the series.
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it plans to investigate whether New York education officials are being discriminatory by threatening to withhold funding if a Long Island school district doesn’t stop using a Native American-themed logo.
The probe by the agency’s civil rights office stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian’s Association, a nonprofit that supports “the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream,” according to its website. The organization says the funding threat constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The announced investigation also comes several days after President Donald Trump waded into a local fight over the Massapequa school district’s longtime “Chief” logo, arguing it was “ridiculous” and “an affront to our great Indian population” to now force the Long Island district to change it.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had asked his education secretary to “fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue.” The post was included in Friday’s announcement from the Department of Education.
“The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
McMahon accused New York officials of choosing to “prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state” and said “it is not lost on the Department” that the state has singled out Native American history and not mascots tied to other groups. She citing “the Vikings, Fighting Irish, (and) the Cowboys” as examples in her statement.
“We will investigate this matter fully,” she said.
JP O’Hare, spokesperson for the New York State Education Department, said in an email Friday evening that the agency had not yet been informed of any investigation.
“However, the U.S. Department of Education’s attempt to interfere with a state law concerning school district mascots is inconsistent with Secretary McMahon’s March 20, 2025 statement that she is ‘sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs,’ ” he said.
“Massapequa has already filed, and lost, a lawsuit regarding this issue,” he said, adding how the state had encouraged the district to consult with local Indigenous representatives.
In an earlier statement, O’Hare said the state’s Board of Regents in April 2023 adopted regulations “to end the demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York’s public schools,” noting that “certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children.”
“Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported,” he said.
Frank Blackcloud, vice president of the North Dakota-based Native American Guardian’s Association, said in a statement that “the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students.”
Kerry Wachter, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked the Trump administration for “standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community’s proud history.”
But Harry Wallace, chief of the state-recognized Unkechaug Indian Nation, which has a reservation on Long Island, said in a statement that it was “ironic that a town that has a history of killing the local Indigenous population should now claim as a tradition a fake image of those very same people.”
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced Friday to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he learned his punishment for the crimes that led to his expulsion from Congress.
Santos, who pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, appealed for mercy. In a federal court a short drive from his old congressional district, he said through tears that he was “humbled” and “chastened” and understood he had betrayed his constituents’ trust.
“I offer my deepest apologies,” he said, adding: “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.”
U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert evidently wasn’t convinced.
“Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” she asked as she sentenced him to 87 months behind bars. “It’s always someone else’s fault.”
The New York Republican, who must report to prison July 25, didn’t respond to reporters’ questions outside the courthouse.
Hours later, though, he took to social media angling for a White House reprieve, despite saying in recent days he wouldn’t seek clemency.
“I believe that 7 years is an over the top politically influenced sentence and I implore that President Trump gives me a chance to prove I’m more than the mistakes I’ve made,” he wrote on the social platform X late Friday.
Santos, 36, served in Congress less than a year before becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues.
He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including his family members, to fund his winning campaign. His plea deal included agreeing to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties.
“From the moment he declared his candidacy for Congress, Santos leveraged his campaign for his own enrichment and financial benefit,” U.S. Attorney John Durham, whose office prosecuted the case, said outside court.
Santos’ victims included a woman with brain damage and two octogenarian men, prosecutor Ryan Harris told the judge.
Defense lawyer Andrew Mancilla had asked the judge for a sentence of two years, portraying Santos as a troubled figure who grew up in a “broken house” and was subjected to bullying throughout his life.
As a result, “he built the man he wanted to be, not who he was,” Mancilla said. “He did that because he believed that the world would not accept him for who he was.”
“Deep down, he is warm, kind, caring and thoughtful,” Mancilla said.
But, the lawyer said, now “everyone hates George Santos.”
Santos was elected in 2022, flipping a wealthy district representing parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP.
Soon after, it was revealed that the political unknown had fabricated much of his life story, painting himself as a successful business owner who worked at prestigious Wall Street firms and held a valuable real estate portfolio.
In reality, Santos was struggling financially and even faced eviction.
He falsely claimed to have been a volleyball star at a college he never even attended. He had referred to himself during the campaign as “a proud American Jew,” but later acknowledged that he was Catholic and insisted he’d only said he was “Jew-ish” after learning that his maternal family had a Jewish background.
Reporters uncovered that Santos had been accused in Brazil of using stolen checks to buy clothing, and that he had once been charged in Pennsylvania with using bad checks to buy puppies from dog breeders.
The revelations led to congressional and criminal inquiries into how he had funded his campaign.
“He told lie after lie until it caught up with him — until we caught up with him and exposed him for what he truly was: an opportunist and a fraud,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, a Republican, said outside court Friday. Her office also investigated Santos.
Before winning office, Santos collected unemployment benefits from New York state while actually working for a Florida company. Once in Congress, he cosponsored legislation intended to root out unemployment fraud.
As his sentencing approached, Santos was reflective and apologetic in social media posts, but at other times seemed to relish his notoriety.
He launched a podcast called “Pants on Fire with George Santos,” and earned hundreds of thousands of dollars selling cheerful, personalized video messages on Cameo. He leaned into his longtime support of Trump, praising the new administration.
The week of his sentencing, Santos told The Associated Press by text he was “ready to face the music.” On X, he made one final plug for his Cameo account.
“Think ahead and of any celebration or event coming up later this year. Book them today,” Santos wrote, ending the post with a series of heart emojis.
Do you think you look just like your mom? Do people do a double take when they see you standing next to your mother? Have you heard the term “twins” before when you’re hanging out with your mom? We want to see you!
Anna and Raven are looking for the mother/daughter duo that looks the most similar! Send us a picture of the two of you next to each other and tell us why you love looking like your mom! The mom/daughter that look the most alike will win a gift card to Target!
What a year for some of the OG ’90s boy bands! The Backstreet Boys are doing another Vegas residency, this time at The Sphere. New Kids on the Block are celebrating the 35th anniversary of Step by Step with a reissue of the LP with bonus material. unreleased tracks and remixes on June 13th. OK ‘NSYNC now we are just waiting on you boys!
(Image: AP Newsroom)
Raven picks an everyday object and Meteorologist Ashley Baylor, Producer Julie, and Producer Julie say what the spending breaking point is for that item!
Raven’s friend got pushed by a random guy at the gym, and it made him think about weird things that you may have seen at the gym. Ashley and Producer Justin share what they saw at the gym!
There is a lot of talk about food dyes that are being banned! Chef Plum explains what it will mean for the way food looks and the impact it will have on your wallet! You can find him online at http://www.chefplum.com/ or search Plum Luv Foods everywhere you listen to podcasts!
Pete Davidson is removing his tattoos and it’s a fortune to remove! When did you give your child control of their finances! Ashley shares when she had her first credit card! Producer Julie asked the Office Squad about what age a child should control their money!
Are you up to date on this week’s biggest news story? Anna and Raven will get you caught up on the trending news stories including the Pope’s Funeral, Jelly Roll’s Potential Pardon, and Robert Irwin starring on Dancing with The Stars!
Accents can be very influential based on where you are from! Raven, Ashley, Producer Julie, and Producer Justin share if they have ever picked up accents!
For all you do, and all you put up with this week, you’ve earned yourself a drink. What did you do to earn your Mommy Margarita? Raven, Meteorologist Ashley, Producer Julie, and Producer Justin share what they did this week to earn their margarita!
They were gifted a dining room set from her grandparents’ estate when they first bought a house and had no money for furniture. He wants to update the furniture with something more modern that actually fits their style. She doesn’t think they’re allowed to part with the set until they can pass it along to their own kids. It’s been in her family for generations – they can’t just put it on Facebook marketplace. Who’s side are you on?
Rachel has a chance to win $2300! All she has to do is answer more pop culture questions than Raven in Can’t Beat Raven!
Raven’s friend got pushed by a random guy at the gym, and it made him think about weird things that you may have seen at the gym. Ashley and Producer Justin share what they saw at the gym!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
There is a lot of talk about food dyes that are being banned! Chef Plum explains what it will mean for the way food looks and the impact it will have on your wallet! You can find him online at http://www.chefplum.com/ or search Plum Luv Foods everywhere you listen to podcasts!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets now have a pair of big, physical, first-round building blocks for their offensive line.
Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou was taken by the Jets with the No. 7 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. The addition of Membou comes a year after New York drafted Olu Fashanu with the 11th overall pick.
“I think the Jets’ O-line has a good, young foundation,” Membou said during a video call a few minutes after he was drafted. “I feel like adding me to it, you know, the work I’m going to put in to this organization, we’ll be very good up in the trenches.”
With the Jets entering the draft with several needs, including at right tackle, new general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn opted to continue upgrading the offensive line.
“He’s mean, he’s nasty, he’s tough,” Glenn said of Membou. “What we’re trying to do on offense, he really fits what we’re trying to do, so it was a no-brainer. I mean, once the pick was there for us, man, it was like, this is the guy.”
Fashanu started at both offensive tackle spots last year, but played well late after he took over on the left side for the injured Tyron Smith. Fashanu will stay at left tackle and Mougey said Membou will compete to take over on the right side.
“I had a feeling this was going to be my home,” said Membou, who added he had good conversations with the Jets leading up to the draft.
New York has an opening at right tackle after Morgan Moses signed with New England as a free agent last month. New York also has Carter Warren, Max Mitchell and Chukwuma Okorafor who could play right tackle, but the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Membou could be a plug-in and play option.
Membou has terrific speed and body control and has been impressive as a pass blocker. He was a second-team All-SEC selection last season after starting 12 games at right tackle for Missouri. He also allowed no sacks last season as a junior and should help provide protection for new Jets quarterback Justin Fields.
“They’re getting a mauler, for sure,” Membou said. “A mauler in the run game and then in pass pro, I’m someone who’s very consistent. I’m going to make sure to keep my quarterback clean.”
Membou’s selection at No. 7 marked the first time the Jets have taken a player in that spot in the NFL draft.
“It’s definitely been long and was a little confusing at first because I wasn’t sure where I’d go,” Membou said of his journey to the draft. “I was still debating whether I was going to go back to school or not. But in my heart, I knew I was ready. I just knew it was my time to go and I’m glad I trusted my decision.”
Glenn has said he envisions an offense that includes a physical rushing attack behind the Jets’ trio of running backs with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. And Membou thinks he’ll fit right in.
“Like I said, I’m a mauler,” he said. “So, whatever they need to do, it don’t matter — just run behind me, really.”
Glenn pointed out that teams in his previous stops as an assistant in New Orleans and Detroit were successful after building their offensive lines, something he and Mougey are trying to do in New York. Glenn also sees some resemblances in Membou to Lions two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
“The mentality and the demeanor of the player is exactly the same,” Glenn said. “That’s what attracted me to that player, first and foremost. And then you start seeing, athletically, how he moves, and then that attracts you. And then when you get a chance to talk to the player and get to know exactly who he is as a person, then that attracts you also.
“So it was like a perfect storm on that guy being a Jet.”
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer
Abdul Carter was strolling through the halls of the New York Giants’ facility during a pre-draft visit a few weeks ago when something caught his eye.
Hanging on the wall was a picture of Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, widely regarded as one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.
Carter, who snapped a photo and posted it on social media, will now get his chance to make his mark on the NFL and create his own legacy with the Giants after they selected the Penn State defensive end with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.
“Yeah, L.T., the GOAT, somebody I look up to, somebody I study and one of the greatest players of all time,” Carter said during a video call shortly after he was taken by the Giants.
“I just want to follow in his footsteps,” he added, “just bring dominance back to New York.”
The Giants later traded their way back into the first round to get their quarterback of the future, selecting Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 overall pick they acquired from Houston. New York sent the Texans its second-round pick (No. 34), a third-round pick (No. 99) and a third-rounder in next year’s draft.
General manager Joe Schoen said Russell Wilson will remain the starting quarterback, giving Dart time to develop.
Carter, who led the country with 23 1/2 tackles for loss and had 12 sacks last season, could make an immediate impact, though. He bolsters a Giants defense that already has solid pass rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns and a strong D-line that includes Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence.
“Adding me to that group, it’s going to be dope,” Carter said. “It’s going to be the most dominant group.”
Schoen announced the Giants are picking up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year contract option, so the trio could be a problem for opposing offenses for a few years.
“Yeah we going crazzyyy!!!!” Thibodeaux posted on X after New York drafted Carter.
The speedy and explosive Carter was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American pick last season and steadily saw his draft stock soar while also drawing comparisons to former Penn State star and current Dallas Cowboys standout Micah Parsons.
“He’s going to have to be Abdul and do the things we need him to do, but I think he has position flexibility,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He can do a variety of things. He’s extremely athletic for a big guy. He’s played on the edge, he’s played off the ball. How we deploy him, we’ll have to get him here and work with him.
“But smart, he’s got great personality, and again, he was a fun guy to evaluate. He’s a tough guy to block.”
Carter, a native of Philadelphia who grew up an Eagles fan, was originally a traditional linebacker during his first two seasons at Penn State before moving to defensive end last year. The move paid off as the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter’s athleticism and elite first step off the ball immediately made him one of college football’s most dominant pass rushers.
And Carter gleaned some things from watching old clips on YouTube of Taylor single-handedly wrecking games.
“Seeing his intensity, seeing the way he thinks, just how dominant he was, how unstoppable he was,” Carter said, “that’s what I aspire to be.”
The Giants, along with many other teams, envision Carter as a dominant force in the NFL, too. And with New York having signed Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, quarterback wasn’t a pressing need for Daboll and Schoen.
So, with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders available and at times during the past few months rumored to be a target of the Giants, New York instead chose to add another key piece to its defense with Carter before later addressing the quarterback spot with Dart.
“He was always a guy that was on our radar that was a special talent,” Schoen said of Carter. “We were just fortunate to be able to land him.”
Carter didn’t participate in on-field drills at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February because of a shoulder injury he suffered in Penn State’s win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Carter also was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right foot during the combine.
“He’s been running, been working out,” Schoen said. “So we’re not really concerned with that at this point.”
During the combine, Carter left no doubts as to who he thought was No. 1 among the draft’s prospects, saying he should be selected first.
He was off by two picks, but believes he ended up exactly where he needs to be.
“Yeah, I’m just trying to be a dominant player,” Carter said. “Just got to put the work in, trust my coaching, trust my teammates, make sure my teammates trust me. And then there is no limit on who I can be.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl