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RandySF's JournalBueckers, Reese, Clark invited to USA Basketball national team training camp
The USA Basketball women’s senior national team has announced its training camp roster, which includes 18 WNBA players and two college players. The program will host a training camp at Duke University from Dec. 12-14 which will serve as an evaluation opportunity.
The training camp roster includes 10 newcomers who will make their senior national camp debut:
Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings
Veronica Burton of the Golden State Valkyries
Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics
Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky
Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever
Lauren Betts of UCLA (Most like part of long-term plans)
JuJu Watkins of USC (Orientation and observation, atil unable to play)
The other eight players have senior national team experience, including medaling at the World Cup, winning gold at the Olympics, and competing in the 3×3 Olympic games:
Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever
Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury
Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces
Brittney Griner of the Atlanta Dream
Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks
Brionna Jones of the Atlanta Dream
Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks
Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces
https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/bueckers-reese-clark-invited-to-usa-basketball-national-team-training-camp/
House Republicans Mull Quitting
Death threats and infighting are spurring House Republicans to contemplate whether they want to stay in Congress — or even leave early.
Why it matters: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-Ga.) scathing resignation has rattled her colleagues. Some are questioning whether the job is still worth it when the work is drowned out by censures, violent threats and loyalty tests to President Trump.
41 members have already announced they plan to call it quits at the end of their term, with more expected to follow. Most House lawmakers make $174,000 a year.
What they're saying: Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who is retiring in 2027, told Axios he was "so angry" at the Trump administration's proposed 28-point Russia-Ukraine peace plan last week that he "thought about" resigning early.
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/congress-retirements-mtg-threats-censures-trump
Sen. Collins signs petition seeking to roll back trans student access to sports, facilities
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has signed a referendum effort seeking to bar transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams and from using girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms.
The Republican’s signature was shared on social media Sunday by someone involved with the campaign and reshared by the Maine Republican Party.
A spokesperson for the senator confirmed on Monday that she had signed the petition.
“Senator Collins supports Title IX, which provides opportunities for girls and women to compete in sports that they did not have prior to the passage of this landmark law,” wrote Blake Kernen in an emailed statement. “That federal law makes distinctions on the basis of sex, not on the basis of gender identity, thus promoting fair competition.”
https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/11/24/sen-collins-signs-petition-seeking-to-roll-back-trans-student-access-to-sports-facilities/
ME-SEN: Sen. Collins signs petition seeking to roll back trans student access to sports, facilities
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has signed a referendum effort seeking to bar transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams and from using girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms.
The Republican’s signature was shared on social media Sunday by someone involved with the campaign and reshared by the Maine Republican Party.
A spokesperson for the senator confirmed on Monday that she had signed the petition.
“Senator Collins supports Title IX, which provides opportunities for girls and women to compete in sports that they did not have prior to the passage of this landmark law,” wrote Blake Kernen in an emailed statement. “That federal law makes distinctions on the basis of sex, not on the basis of gender identity, thus promoting fair competition.”
https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/11/24/sen-collins-signs-petition-seeking-to-roll-back-trans-student-access-to-sports-facilities/
UT-01: Another Democrat joins the race to represent Utah's new, left-leaning district
State Sen. Nate Blouin is jumping into the race for a newly drawn congressional district favoring Democrats.
Blouin is running for Congress in 2026 instead of a second term in the Utah Senate because he wants to stand up to President Donald Trump and work on making housing more affordable, he told Utah News Dispatch Monday.
“People are having to decide between a mortgage or child care, and that’s unacceptable. We should be able to provide people in the richest country in the world with all of those opportunities,” Blouin said.
Blouin, 36, said he believes Congress needs more representatives who are younger and understand what it’s like to navigate today’s economy with student debt.
https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/11/24/utah-democrat-nate-blouin-joins-race-new-left-leaning-district/
Ballot measure effort seeks to provide free school meals to North Dakota students
North Dakotans may have the chance to cast their ballot on whether every public school student in the state can have breakfast and lunch for free.
Advocacy organization Together For School Meals plans to submit language for the potential ballot petition to the Secretary of State’s Office this week.
If approved and the required 31,164 signatures for constitutional ballot measure are gathered, submitted and verified, the measure would appear on the 2026 general election ballot in November with the free meals beginning during the 2027-28 school year.
Robin Nelson, chair of the ballot petition’s sponsoring committee, said the effort to provide school meals to North Dakota students for free began with a small team of citizens in preparation for the 2021 legislative session. While legislative proposals have failed, she said polling shows it is popular with the public.
https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/11/24/ballot-measure-effort-seeks-to-provide-free-school-meals-to-north-dakota-students/
Investigation opened based on campaign finance complaint against Colorado lawmaker (R)
A campaign finance complaint made against Colorado state Rep. Ron Weinberg moved into an investigation phase last week, according to documents from the secretary of state’s Elections Division.
Weinberg, a Loveland Republican, faces a complaint related to how he spent campaign contributions at, among other places, a barber shop, a cigar shop and a high-end Denver hotel. There is also a donation to the Israeli rugby team Maccabi Tel-Aviv Football Club.
The complaint was filed in August by Rep. Brandi Bradley, a Littleton Republican. Weinberg had an opportunity to respond to the complaint and address the allegations. The submitted documents are not publicly available.
“Given their responses to the Complaint, Respondents did not substantially comply with Colorado campaign finance law,” the investigation notice, dated Nov. 19, says.
https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/campaign-finance-complaint-weinberg/
OH-GOV: With others sitting out, Ohio governor race narrows down to Amy Acton (D) and Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
The Ohio governor’s race is narrowing as Democrat Dr. Amy Acton gears up for a fight against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, likely avoiding a costly primary battle.
“Together, we are going to build the Ohio that we all want to live in,” Acton said in an interview on Friday afternoon.
Former Congressman Tim Ryan announced this morning that he will not be running for governor. This means Acton will remain the Democratic frontrunner.
But for Acton, Friday was just another day on the campaign trail.
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/25/with-others-sitting-out-ohio-governor-race-narrows-down-to-amy-acton-and-vivek-ramaswamy/
How to win elections and influence the State House? The League of RI Businesses has a plan.
The piece de resistance: a string of 40 political action committees — one statewide and one for every city and town in Rhode Island — allowing The League of RI Businesses to circumvent the $2,000-per-candidate annual campaign donation limit set by state law.
“With 40 PACs aligned in mission, The League has the capacity to direct up to $1 million annually toward supporting new, common-sense candidates and challenging extremist incumbents,” the business group boasted in a Nov. 17 press release.
It’s a loophole already employed by seasoned political strategists to a much lesser, and less vocal degree. Amica, Bally’s Corp., and the state teachers’ union all have two PACs apiece, according to state campaign finance data. The Providence firefighters union has four PACS. The union representing local and state government and public school workers was the previous chart-topper, with five PACS.
“What the League of RI Businesses is doing is taking it to an extreme,” said Ric Thornton, campaign finance director for the Rhode Island Board of Elections. “It’s unprecedented.”
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/11/25/how-to-win-elections-and-influence-the-state-house-the-league-of-ri-businesses-has-a-plan/
Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor announces re-election campaign
MAYORAL CAMPAIGN: Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor announced Wednesday he plans to seek re-election for a fifth term. According to a press release, Taylor will not be running again in 2030 if elected as mayor in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. Taylor is endorsed by state Reps. Jennifer Conlin, Jason Morgan and Carrie Rheingans, all Democrats, and all Ann Arbor City Councilmembers.
Taylor said he plans to focus on building affordable housing and achieving carbon neutrality in his next term.
https://www.michigandaily.com/newsletter/ann-arbor-mayor-christopher-taylor-announces-re-election-campaign/
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