RandySF
RandySF's JournalIs Rick Pitino right that blue bloods 'no longer control' college basketball?
Rick Pitino raised eyebrows last week with comments about the status of traditional blue blood programs in the current landscape of men’s college basketball. Essentially, Pitino suggested the “blue bloods” are almost as passé as compact discs.
“The blue bloods no longer control basketball any longer,” the St. John’s coach said prior to the No. 5 seed Red Storm playing (and losing to) No. 1 seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament round of 16.
“There’s no difference between Kentucky, North Carolina (and) Illinois or St. John’s,” Pitino said. “There’s no difference anymore. ... You’re going to see 40 to 50 teams all the same. There’s no such thing as a blue blood anymore.”
Pitino explained that, in his view, the traditional advantages enjoyed by blue bloods such as better facilities, greater tradition and larger fan bases are no longer as resonant in an era when power-conference schools woo players by offering six- or seven-figure contracts.
https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article315251050.html#storylink=cpy
MI-SEN: U.S. Senate candidate Rogers taps students who defended Hitler group chat and spread misogynistic comments
U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers’s newly announced student outreach team includes a member who complained about women in politics and another who defended a leaked Young Republicans group chat filled with praise for Hitler, gas chamber jokes, racial slurs, and rape comments.
This comes on top of the Republican’s earlier decision to surround himself with pastors and advisers who have long opposed LGBTQ+ rights and promoted false claims about election fraud.
Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent, announced “Students for Mike Rogers” earlier this month. The campaign post listed Cameron Dundas of Northwestern Michigan College and Alexander Richmond, a University of Michigan student whose LinkedIn profile identified him as Rogers’s campus coordinator.
On X on Feb. 25, Dundas, who promoted his involvement with the group on Facebook the same day Rogers announced it, wrote, “Send them to North Korea?” in response to a post asking what should be done about “these people,” a comment that appeared to refer to Jews.
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/u-s-senate-candidate-rogers-taps-students-who-defended-hitler-group-chat-and-spread-misogynistic-comments/
Elena Delle Donne to enter Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026
Elena Delle Donne, the Ursuline Academy and University of Delaware star who went on to win WNBA MVP twice, will receive basketball's highest career honor.
Delle Donne will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, according to a March 31 report by ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Greenville-area native will be the first Delawarean in the Basketball Hall of Fame, which honors accomplishments across all levels of the sport. It is located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Delle Donne was first in a 2022 ranking of Delaware’s all-time most accomplished athletes.
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/college/ud/2026/03/31/elena-delle-donne-named-to-naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-class/89407748007/
Clock starts for Whitehall mayor (?), others to resign or face special election
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A push to recall elected officials in Whitehall is moving forward.
The Franklin County Board of Elections last week certified that petitions to recall Mayor Michael Bivens, Councilmember Amy Harcar, and Councilmember Lori Elmore had gathered enough signatures to move forward in the recall process. The city clerk deemed them valid today.
If the officials do not resign within five calendar days after receiving notice of sufficiency, the special election will be held within 30 to 60 days. Whitehall City Attorney Brad Nicodemus confirmed all had been notified today.
Recall petitions need signatures from at least 15 percent of the voters from the last election. In this case, that means the petitions needed at least 425 valid signatures. According to the board of elections, the petitions received 444 to 447 valid signatures. Between 24 and 27 signatures were ruled invalid.
https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/franklin-county-board-of-elections-certifies-whitehall-recall-petitions-for-mayor-michael-bivens-councilmember-amy-harcar-lori-elmore-sufficient-sepcial-elections-resignation
Jasper City Council has selected Municipal Election Judges
The Jasper City Council convened in a special called meeting on Tuesday and selected the Election Judges for the upcoming May 2nd Municipal Election.
The motion was made by At-Large Councilman LeQuin Hilderbrand and seconded by District 3 Councilman DaMarcus Holmes, and when put to a vote it passed unanimously.
District 1, at Mount Olive Baptist Church, will have L.V. Rasbury as judge and Gwen Gilbert will be the alternate judge.
District 2, at Parnell Elementary School, will have Louis Schexsnayder as judge and Armond Cauley will be the alternate judge.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_5a462141-605f-4355-8d7b-943d4b6507f9.html
NC campaign finance watchdog files complaints against two Cumberland County elections officials
Longtime North Carolina campaign finance watchdog Bob Hall has filed complaints with the State Board of Elections against two members of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, alleging one made an illegal campaign contribution in 2022 and the other failed to report it.
Hall filed a complaint against board member Brenda Eldridge, the board’s current secretary and a former chairwoman of the Cumberland County Republican Party, for allegedly making an illegal campaign contribution. He filed another against current board chairwoman Linda Devore for not reporting the alleged infraction to the State Board of Elections. Devore was a member of the county election board at the time.
Neither Eldridge nor Devore responded to voice messages left by NC Newsline Tuesday.
In the complaint against Eldridge, Hall alleges that Eldridge “intentionally collected contributions from anonymous sources and used the funds to help make, or reimburse herself for, a $25,000 contribution in her name to the Cumberland County Republican Party.”
https://ncnewsline.com/2026/03/31/nc-campaign-finance-watchdog-files-complaints-against-two-cumberland-county-elections-officials/
Filer School District puts forward $650,000 supplemental levy for May election
FILER, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — On May 19, voters in Filer will once again go to the polls to weigh in on a supplemental levy for the school district.
After funding measures failed in the past two elections, the Filer School Board decided to focus solely on a supplemental levy in the upcoming May primary.
Superintendent Kelli Schroeder said the levy is worth $650,000 and would fund three areas of the district.
“$520,000 is for staffing, that is about five to six certified positions and two to three classified positions. $65,000 goes towards supplies and $65,000 is used for extracurricular activities,” Schroeder said.
https://www.kmvt.com/2026/04/01/filer-school-district-puts-forward-supplemental-levy-may-primary/
Wyatt McCrackin (?) unofficial winner in Aynor Special Election
AYNOR, S.C. (WPDE) — Wyatt McCrackin is the winner of the Town of Aynor special election, unofficial results show.
Aynor Poll Managers released a tally that showed McCrackin garnered 66 votes, while Andrew Brown received 41.
The special election took place to fill the town council seat left vacant after former councilman Landon Johnson won the race for Mayor.
Johnson took to social media, congratulating McCrackin, " Either of these gentlemen would have done a great job. Both [are] very much full of Aynor Pride. Congrats to Mr. Wyatt McCracken. We look toward the future as we move forward serving our community."
https://wpde.com/news/local/mccrackin-leads-in-aynor-special-election
DeSantis criticizes Republican who lost Tampa Senate special election
TALLAHASSEE — After a well-financed Republican candidate lost the race for a Tampa state Senate seat last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended his decision to not get involved in the election.
Democrat Brian Nathan defeated Republican Josie Tomkow in the special election by just over 400 votes, despite a higher number of Republicans voting compared to Democrats.
“That’s just kind of the way the cookie crumbles,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis seemingly blamed Tomkow for the loss, noting that he won the district handily in his race for governor and that former Sen. Jay Collins also secured a solid win in 2022.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/03/31/florida-tampa-hillsborough-special-election-desantis-josie-tomkow/
Platte County prosecutor (R) withdraws from election
PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - Longtime Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd will not seek reelection, he told KCTV on Tuesday.
Zahnd, who has held the role since 2002, had previously filed for election before withdrawing from the race ahead of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline.
Zahnd told KCTV he will hold a press conference Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. to explain his decision and what he’ll do next.
Mark Gibson, Zahnd’s longtime first assistant, filed for election on Tuesday.
https://www.kctv5.com/2026/04/01/platte-county-prosecutor-withdraws-election/
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
Home country: USA
Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 02:53 PM
Number of posts: 84,263