Aryna Sabalenka got past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a rollicking U.S. Open women’s final Saturday to win her first championship at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam title of her career.
Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, adds this trophy to the two she earned at the Australian Open each of the past two seasons, also on hard courts. And the victory allowed her to leave Arthur Ashe Stadium in a far better mood than when she was the runner-up to Coco Gauff at the 2023 U.S. Open.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Final on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
/ Getty Images
Sabalenka will each earn a $3.6 million check — a 20% bump from the $3 million winners earned in 2023. All four semifinalists in both singles draws will get $1 million a piece. Notably, this year marks the 50th anniversary of male and female players earning equal prize money at the tournament.
Pegula, a native New Yorker whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, was participating in a major final for the first time. She’s won 15 of her past 17 matches over the past month but both losses came against Sabalenka in tournament finals. Pegula will get $1.8 million this year as the runner-up, according to official figures from the Queens, New York, tournament.
Havldimir quickly became a celebrity in Norway, swimming his way into their Nordic hearts.
But this beluga whale’s odd story started in 2019 when he was discovered in northern Norway near the island of Ingoya wearing a harness with “Equipment St Petersburg” written in English connected to a mount for a small camera.
Hvaldimir, as Norwegians dubbed him – mixing together the Norwegian word for whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name – was intelligent, friendly and responded to hand signals, leading Norway’s spy agency to believe he had been held in captivity by Russia and used for research purposes.
Once Hvaldimir was freed from his harness, though, his friendly personality made him beloved in the country.
Hvaldimir was found in 2019 wearing a harness with a camera mount on it. (Jorgen Ree Wiig/Sea Surveillance Service/Handout/NTB Scanpix via Reuters/File Photo)
He was fed and monitored by the Norwegian government and dubbed a “free-swimming whale” by the Norwegian Orca Survey, venturing as far as Sweden but always returning home, according to The Telegraph.
Hvaldimir was found dead off southern Norway last weekend.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who worked with Marine Mind, told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. “He was apparently in good condition as of (Friday), so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”
Hvaldimir, being fed here, became beloved in Norway. (orgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
Hvaldimir may have died of natural causes, but conservation groups NOAH and One Whale have filed police reports claiming he was shot, according to the Telegraph.
The Oceanic Preservation Society said that a necropsy will be done on Hvaldimir to determine his cause of death in the next few weeks.
“We’ve been absolutely devastated over the news, and are deeply saddened that humanity failed this beloved whale,” the organization said on social media.
He was fed and monitored by the Norwegian government and dubbed a “free-swimming whale” by the Norwegian Orca Survey, venturing as far as Sweden but always returning home.(Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
Nonprofit Marine Mind said on Facebook that Hvaldimir “bridged the gap” between humans and wild animals in a way “few can.”
“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,” the organization said. “Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he also taught us more about ourselves.”
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Denver Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray has agreed to a four-year, $208 million maximum contract extension, his agents, Jeff Schwartz and Mike George, told ESPN on Saturday.
The deal — which keeps Murray out of free agency next summer — ties one of the franchise cornerstones to the Nuggets for a total of five seasons and $244 million.
Murray will earn $36 million this coming season before a bump to $46.4 million in 2025-26. He will make $50.1 million in 2026-27, $53.8 million in 2027-28 and $57.5 million in the final year of the deal, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Murray, 27, has developed into a devastating running mate with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, a pick-and-roll partner for one of the most impactful combinations in the NBA.
Murray made a remarkable comeback after missing the 2021-2022 season with a torn ACL, returning to help Jokic lead the Nuggets to an NBA championship in the next season.
Murray, one of eight players with multiple 50-point playoff games in NBA history, is the franchise’s all-time leader in made 3-point shots. He averaged career highs of 21.2 points and 6.5 assists a season ago.
Murray was one of three players to average 20 points, six assists and 40% 3-point shooting a season ago, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
King Charles is reportedly onto a swift recovery for his cancer due to Queen Camilla’s support.
His Majesty, who is currently undergoing treatment for his diagnosis, is able to have the grasp of monarchy due to his beloved wife:
A source tells The Sun: “Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I’m sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have.
“Of course it’s been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency, only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.”
The source added: “There will be personal thoughts, prayers and reflections.
“I’m sure it will be a very poignant day for all. How could it not be, not least given the year of challenge that the whole family has had?” they noted.
On behalf of the United States of America, I send my warmest greetings to Brazil on the 202nd anniversary of your independence.
The bond between the United States and Brazil, developed over two centuries, is founded on our shared values and interests. Together, we seek to combat climate change, conserve biodiversity, strengthen democratic institutions, and harness technology to leave a cleaner and more sustainable planet for generations to come. We are working together on clean energy, decarbonization and critical mineral supply chains, and fighting together for the rights of workers and the economic betterment of all. Both the United States and Brazil are strengthened by our diversity, and we are proud to work together to expand social inclusion and eradicate racial and ethnic prejudice and discrimination in our countries and around the world. May the years ahead continue to strengthen our bonds and our shared democratic values.
The United States wishes the people of Brazil a joyous celebration of your Independence Day.
Former NBA star Gary Payton Sr. is the new head coach of the College of Alameda men’s basketball team, the school announced Saturday.
“Gary Payton is the right choice for the College Of Alameda for a number of reasons,” athletic director Remaundo Vaughn said. “Gary has always been a leader and winner. We know that Coach Payton will hold our athletes accountable on the court, in the classroom and in the community. During the interview process, he spoke about having our student-athletes in the community, giving back. The energy and passion that he brings along with his genuine love for the East Bay is unmatched. The opportunity for our players to learn from one of the all-time NBA greats and Olympic gold medalist is one that we knew we could not afford to pass up.”
Payton, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, was the head coach at the financially strapped NAIA Lincoln University in Oakland, California, the past three seasons before taking over at Alameda, the nearby junior college on an island.
Payton, an Oakland native, inherits a program that went 7-21 last season while playing in the Bay Valley Conference.
The 56-year-old Payton also has been coaching in the Big 3 since its inception in 2017, and this past season led Bivouac to a title while being named the league’s coach of the year.
During 17 seasons in the NBA, Payton won a championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat. “The Glove” was known for his stifling defense and was the first point guard to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In my reporting on women’s reproductive rights, I’ve witnessed the critical role that independent journalism plays in protecting freedoms and informing the public.
Your support allows us to keep these vital issues in the spotlight. Without your help, we wouldn’t be able to fight for truth and justice.
Every contribution ensures that we can continue to report on the stories that impact lives
Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
Throughout the last two weeks, fans took to the stands to watch their favorite tennis champions hold court at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Unsurprisingly, the US Open has been a star-studded affair, including actors like Alec Baldwin and Jessica Biel, and American Olympian Simone Biles. Grand slam champion Serena Williams even made an apperance, along with the rest of the guests packed in the stands to watch famed tennis athletes on the court, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Iga Swiatek.
While the US Open is coming to a close on September 8, more celebrities have been in attendance as the competition ramped up. Here are some of the stars who’ve been spotted at the event, which takes place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles attends Day Ten of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 4 (Getty Images)
After winning three gold medals and one silver at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Biles made her way to Billie Jean King Tennis Center for the US Open on September 4. While in the stands, she wore an open, blue, button-down shirt and white tank top, with white pants. She also wore a pair of silver sunglasses, with black lenses, and silver bracelets on.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams (left) attends Day Six of the 2024 US Open on August 31 (Getty Images)
Serena Williams attended the US Open on August 31 in an all-denim outfit, including a pair of shorts and an open, blue shirt. She also had a white crop top on, paired with her brown sunglasses. She made an apperance at the competition the following day, September 1, as well, and watched a match alongside Alicia Keys.
Gayle King
Gayle King at the US Open on September 6 (Getty Images)
Gayle King attended the US Open on September 6, as she watched the Men’s Singles Semifinal match between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. For the occasion, she wore a multi-colored, checkerboard sweater, along with a silver necklace and neon, green glasses.
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks at US Open on September 5 (Getty Images)
Elizabeth Banks stunned in a simple, navy blue dress with a slit, while attending the US Open on September 5 in Queens, New York.
Joey King
Joey King poses with Aperol as she attends US Open on September 6 (@joeyking / Instagram)
Joey King did a partnership with Aperol, the official Aperol Spritz brand, while attending the US Open on September 6. At the competition, she wore a light blue and green striped shirt and tan pants, paired with a matching blue purse.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys attends Day Seven of the 2024 US Open on September 1 (Getty Images)
The singer first attended the tennis competition on September 1, wearing a white button-down shirt and jeans. Keys paired her outfit with brown sunglasses, gold hoop earrings, a brown purse, a gold necklace, and red lipstick.
Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson
Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson at the US Open on September 4 (Getty Images for Heineken)
The lead of season 28 of The Bachelor,Joey Graziadei, posed alongside his fiancée, Kelsey Anderson, at the US Open on September 4. The couple had matching New York Yankees hats on, while Anderson wore a white dress. Meawhile, Graziadei opted for black pants, a white tank top, and a salmon shirt.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox at the US Open on September 4 (Getty Images for Maestro Dobel)
At the US Open on September 4, Laverne Cox rocked a red, white, and navy blue skirt and crop top set, along with a matching jacket, and black heels.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jacman at the US Open on August 31 (Getty Images)
Actor Hugh Jackman wore a classy blue tuxedo and white shirt, as he sat in the stands at the tennis event on August 31.
Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel at the US Open on August 28 (Getty Images)
Jessica Biel kept her eyes on the court at the US Open on August 28, watching the Women’s Singles Second Round match between Coco Gauff and Tatjana Maria. For the event, the actor wore a light blue vest and matching pair of pants, along with a gold necklace. The following day, she returned to the tennis event in a cream blazer and matching pants, alongside her nine-year-old son, Silas.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin attends Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August (Getty Images)
Alec Baldwin was dapper as he watched a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August.
Anna Wintour and Vera Wang
Vera Wang and Anna Wintour attend Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August (Getty Images)
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and designer Vera Wang watched a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August. The editor-in chief took the stands in a pair of reptilian-inspired ankle boots, while Wang accessorized her Chanel look with pearl necklace from the brand and heart-shaped Alaïa purse.
Phoebe Dynevor, Myha’la Herrold and Cameron Fuller
Phoebe Dynevor, Myha’la Herrold and Cameron Fuller attend Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August (Getty Images)
Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor and her fiancé Cameron Fuller chatted with Industry star Myha’la Herrold as they checked out a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August.
Ashley Park and Paul Forman
‘Emily in Paris’ stars and real-life couple Ashley Park and Paul Forman don Aperol Spritz x US Open merch for the tournament (Guerin Charles/ABACA/Shutterstock)
Emily in Paris stars Ashley Park and Paul Forman took their real-life chemistry to the Aperol Suite at the 2024 US Open, rocking the brand’s merch for the occasion.
Zoey Deutch
Zoey Deutch attends Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August. (Getty Images)
Zoey Deutch rocked her chic “mixie” haircut as she enjoyed a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August.
Lin Manuel-Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda attends Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August (Getty Images)
The Broadway star observed a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August.
Ally Love
Ally Love attends Day One of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 26 August (Getty Images)
The fitness instructor was enraptured by a tennis match at the 2024 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on 26 August.
PISCATAWAY, N.Y. — Rutgers has hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into athlete allegations of bullying, favoritism and revenge by the coach of the gymnastics program.
President Jonathan Holloway announced earlier this week the university hired Lowenstein Sandler partner Matthew Boxer to lead the investigation into allegations against coach Umme Salim-Beasley.
The allegations coincided with the surprising retirement of Scarlet Knights athletic director Pat Hobbs on Aug. 16. He cited health issues in stepping down.
A former New Jersey state comptroller and federal prosecutor, Boxer investigated the Rutgers’ softball program in 2020 after members of the team said coaches subjected athletes to emotional abuse and abusive conditioning.
NJ Advance Media first reported the gymnastics allegations, talking with seven former gymnasts and one still on the team who described a “toxic” climate in the program while detailing their experiences with Salim-Beasley.
“This effort will ensure that any and all concerns raised about the program have been thoroughly reviewed, determine whether appropriate follow-up steps were taken, identify reasons for any potentially insufficient responses, and recommend areas where additional steps may be necessary,” Holloway said in a statement. “The review will further identify and address any concerns about the culture of the team that are revealed.”
Holloway said the recommendations in the report will be made public. He said the firm will be paid a $50,000 retainer and a rate of $225,000 for the first month, dropping to $195,000 for the second month. Fees will be revisited if additional time is needed to complete the review.
Holloway told the the university governing boards on Aug. 31 about ordering the external investigation. At the time he wrote that he was confident that the university had applied its policies appropriately as it pertains to the gymnastics program.
“Our learning environment depends upon the safety, health, and mental well-being of all our students, and the university strives in every aspect of our operations to foster an environment where our students can thrive,” Holloway wrote. “Rutgers Athletics shares this commitment. Whenever concerns or allegations arise about our support for students, the University investigates those concerns in accordance with our policies, the law, and, in the case of Athletics, our NCAA standards.”
A serial killer known as the “Hollywood Ripper” and the “Boy Next Door Killer,” who has already been sentenced to death for two murders in Southern California in 2001 and 2005, has been extradited to Illinois for the 1993 murder of an 18-year-old.
Michael Gargiulo, 48, has been charged with the August 1993 murder of Tricia Pacaccio, 18, who was found by her father outside of her home in Fairview, Illinois, after spending an evening with friends, according to FOX 32.
“Michael Gargiulo, was a friend and classmate of the victim’s brother. The defendant’s residence was located one block from the Pacaccios,” Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Ethan Holland told reporters from the courthouse in Skokie, Illinois, on Friday.
Gargiulo was a suspect during the initial investigation, but he wasn’t linked to the crime through DNA until after he had left for California where he killed Ashley Ellerin, 22, in 2001 and Maria Bruno, 32, a mother of four whose breasts were cut off during her killing, in 2005.
Michael Gargiulo has been charged in the 1993 murder of 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio outside of her home. (FOX 32)
Actor Ashton Kutcher testified at Gargiulo’s trial for Ellerin’s murder that he was supposed to pick her up for a date that night in 2001, but she had been murdered by the time he arrived at her house. She was stabbed 47 times.
Gargiulo allegedly also attempted to murder another woman in the Los Angeles area in 2008.
After those murders, Holland said more witnesses came forward. “These witnesses indicated that in the late 1990s Michael Gargiulo had admitted that he had killed a girl in Chicago.”
Holland said someone known as “Witness A” “accompanied Gargiulo, and another individual to get rid of knives that Gargiulo possessed. Gargiulo admitted to witness ‘A’ that he was afraid that police were coming after him.”
Pacaccio was found dead outside of her home in August 1993. (FOX 32)
He added that another person who came forward, known as “Witness C,” said that Gargiulo had told him he had “buried the b—-. When pressed by witness ‘C’ to tell the truth, Gargiulo said that he was only kidding and he had actually ‘left the b—- on step for dead.’”
Gargiulo was finally charged with Pacaccio’s murder in 2011, but wasn’t extradited until he was sentenced in California.
She is estimated to be worth $1.3 billion, making her one of the country’s youngest women with a 10-figure fortune. The publication determined a “vast bulk” of her net worth is attached to the success of her Rare Beauty makeup and cosmetics brand (which is available in the United States, Canada, and Mexico) that launched in 2019.
Gomez, 32, started acting as a child before starting her music career and appearing in the Hulu hit series “Only Murders in the Building,” which was recently renewed for Season 5. Gomez will also star in the Cannes-winning musical drama, “Emilia Perez,” from Jacques Audiard, which is slated to open in select theaters on Nov. 1, before streaming on Netflix on Nov. 13.
Though Gomez has been more active on-screen in recent years, she did share a pair of fresh singles — “Love On,” in February, and “Single Soon” in 2023 — through her label Interscope Records, and also began teasing a new album. She was a mainstay on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout most of 2023 thanks to her single, “Calm Down,” a RIAA certified triple-platinum hit she shares with Afrobeats superstar Rema.
The Bloomberg report also emphasizes Gomez’s social media impact and her mental health brand, in addition to her personal brand deals and sponsorships. The publication writes that the “wealth analysis [of Selena Gomez] took into account the estimated value of her stake in Rare Beauty, her interest in Wondermind, the estimated value of her music album sales and properties, and earnings from streaming deals, brand partnerships, concert tickets and acting.”
A representative for Gomez did not immediately return Variety‘s request for comment.
Gomez’s next venture will be executive producing and starring in the upcoming Disney+ reboot of the Disney Channel series she started on as a teenager, “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Now dubbed “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” the sequel series will premiere on the network on Oct. 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
