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Former Cal RB Jaydn Ott transfers to Oklahoma football

On the eve of the NCAA spring transfer window for college football, Brent Venables and Oklahoma football have landed a big piece to their roster for the upcoming season.

The Sooners announced on the program’s social media platforms Tuesday that they have signed former California running back Jaydn Ott, who was ranked the No. 3 player in his position unit in the transfer portal according to 247Sports.

Ott’s signing with the Sooners comes less than one day after the 6-foot running back abruptly entered his name into the transfer portal ahead of the spring window, which opens on Wednesday, April 16 and closes on Friday, April 25.

247Sports listed Ott as the No. 3 running back and No. 50 overall player in the transfer portal. He was also ranked a four-star recruit in the transfer portal. The Chino, California native is now one of 17 players that have transferred to Oklahoma this past season according to 247Sports, and the 13th offensive player.

Ott is coming off a limited junior campaign with the Bears, as he battled an ankle injury throughout the season. In 10 games for Cal this past year, Ott ran for 385 yards and four rushing touchdowns, while adding a receiving touchdown vs. Miami on Oct. 5.

He rushed for 2,586 yards and 24 touchdowns over his three seasons in the Pac-12 and ACC with Cal. Of his three seasons in Berkeley, his best came in his sophomore season as he broke out for 1,305 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

The addition of Ott is a big one for the revamped Sooners offense under first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who previously held that position at Washington State. He joins a running back group with Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson, Gavin Sawchuk and Taylor Tatum according to Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Sooners also announced they signed former Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula on Tuesday.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Sports

How to watch Grizzlies vs. Warriors play-in game

The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies face off Tuesday night to determined the Western Conference’s 7-seed. The winner of this game will go on to face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The loser, meanwhile, will be forced into a winner-take-all contest for the 8-seed on Friday.

There’s a lot on the line for this matchup, which has become somewhat commonplace for the two teams involved. Just a few years ago, in 2021, the Grizzlies and Warriors faced off in the play-in tournament for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with the Grizzlies emerging victorious in overtime. That game came just a few days after the Warriors won their final regular-season game over Memphis to give them the 8-seed in the West. Obviously, that win did them no good, though.

Now the Warriors are looking to avenge that loss with mostly the same cast of characters but a key addition in midseason acquisition Jimmy Butler. Since trading for Butler from the Miami Heat, the Warriors have gone 23-8, yet still find themselves in the play-in. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have lost nine of their last 14. Had they gone an even .500 in that stretch they would’ve avoided the play-in tournament altogether.

With so much on the line for this contest, it’s a can’t-miss affair for NBA fans. Here’s how to watch.

How to watch Grizzlies vs. Warriors play-in game:

  • Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
  • Location: Chase Center in San Francisco, California
  • TV: TNT
  • Stream: Sling TV, YouTube TV

Watch the NBA play-in tournament with Sling TV

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

Soaring Medicare prescription drug prices targeted in Trump’s new executive order

President Donald Trump is seeking to combat soaring prescription drug prices in a new executive order he signed Tuesday. 

The order instructs Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) to standardize Medicare payments for prescription drugs — including those used for cancer patients — no matter where a patient receives treatment. This could lower prices for patients by as much as 60%, according to a White House fact sheet.

Likewise, the order also calls to match the Medicare payment for certain prescription drugs to the price that hospitals pay for those drugs — up to 35% lower than what the government pays to acquire those medications, the White House said. 

The order also takes steps to lower insulin prices. Specifically, the order calls for lowering insulin prices for low-income patients or those that are uninsured to as little as three cents, and injectable epinephrine to treat allergic reactions to as low as $15, coupled with a ‘small administrative fee,’ according to a White House fact sheet. 

Additionally, the order attempts to drive down states’ drug prices by ‘facilitating importation programs that could save states millions in prescription drug prices,’ as well as bolstering programs that assist states secure deals on sickle-cell medications in Medicaid, the fact sheet said. 

The order also requires DHS to seek comment on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which the Biden administration authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act and allows Medicare to directly engage in hashing out prescription prices with drug companies. 

‘The guidance shall improve the transparency of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, prioritize the selection of prescription drugs with high costs to the Medicare program, and minimize any negative impacts of the maximum fair price on pharmaceutical innovation within the United States,’ the order said. 

Drug prices have significantly ramped up in recent years. Between January 2022 and January 2023, prescription drug prices rose more than 15% and reached an average of $590 per drug product, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Of the 4,200 prescription drugs included on that list, 46% of the price increases exceeded the rate of inflation. 

Previous efforts under the first Trump administration to curb prescription drug prices included installing a cap on Medicaid prescription drug plans for insulin at $35. 

Meanwhile, Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. could mean that healthcare costs are particularly susceptible to price increases. Market research group Black Book Research found that 84% of experts predict that prices for medical treatments and drugs will rise due to the tariffs, according to a survey released in February. 

Additionally, Trump signaled Monday that tariffs on the pharmaceutical were headed down the pipeline. 

‘We don’t make our own drugs anymore,’ Trump told reporters Monday. ‘The drug companies are in Ireland, and they’re in lots of other places, China.’

Trump signed the executive order Tuesday, along with others that seek to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing Social Security benefits, and another one calling to investigate the impact of imported processed mineral on national security. 

Tuesday’s executive order comes days after the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told states Thursday that the federal government would cease assistance to states to fund nonmedical services geared toward things like nutrition for those enrolled in Medicaid. 

Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Business

Hertz says 2024 hack exposed some customers’ driver license and credit card data

Hertz is notifying customers that a data hack late last year may have exposed their personal data.

The rental-car giant said an analysis of the incident that it completed on April 2 found the breach affected some customers’ birthdates, credit card and driver’s license data and information related to workers’ compensation claims.

The hack occurred between October and December 2024, Hertz said, adding that “a very small number of individuals” may have had their Social Security numbers, passport information and Medicare or Medicaid IDs impacted as well.

The company didn’t disclose how many of its customers were affected by the cyberattack.

Hertz said the hackers accessed the information through systems operated by Cleo Communications, one of its software vendors, and said it was one of “many other companies affected by this event.”

Cleo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Hertz takes the privacy and security of personal information seriously,” the company said in a statement, adding that it has reported the breach to law enforcement and is also alerting the relevant regulators. It’s offering two years of free identity-monitoring services to Hertz customers affected by the breach.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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Sports

NBA playoffs: Full schedule, bracket, start dates, TV for each series

A basketball season full of 82 games, blockbuster trades and multiple head coach terminations comes down to this: the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Who will be crowned the next NBA champion? Will the Boston Celtics become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018? Will Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers bring Cleveland its first title since 2016? Or will the young core of the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Houston Rockets hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Before the first round officially gets underway on Friday, the final four spots in the playoffs are up for grabs. The play-in tournament will decide which teams advance to the postseason or are cleared for takeoff to Cancun.

Here’s the complete NBA playoffs schedule, including the play-In tournament dates,

BUCKS: Giannis ready for ‘dirty work’ as MVP preps for playoffs

NBA: Who’s playing who: 2025 play-in and playoff bracket.

Play-in tournament schedule

All times Eastern

Tuesday, April 15

Game 1: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic

  • Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | TNT
  • Winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed in East

Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors

  • Time/TV: 10 p.m. | TNT
  • Winner advances to playoffs as West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 16

Game 3: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls

  • Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Loser is eliminated.

Game 4: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings

  • Time/TV: 10 p.m. | ESPN
  • Loser is eliminated

Friday, April 18

Game 3 winner vs. Game 1 loser

  • Time/TV: TBD | TNT
  • Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in East

Game 4 winner vs. Game 2 loser

  • Time/TV: TBD | TNT
  • Winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed in West

First round

All times Eastern. *-if necessary

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Cavaliers| Sunday, April 20
  • Game 2: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD
  • Game 3: Cavaliers at TBD | TBD
  • Game 4:Cavaliers at TBD | TBD
  • Game 5: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD*
  • Game 6: Cavaliers at TBD | TBD*
  • Game 7: TBD at Cavaliers| TBD*

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Celtics | Sunday, April 20
  • Game 2: TBD at Celtics | TBD
  • Game 3: Celtics at TBD | TBD
  • Game 4: Celtics at TBD | TBD
  • Game 5: TBD at Celtics | TBD*
  • Game 6: Celtics at TBD | TBD*
  • Game 7: TBD at Celtics | TBD*

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons

  • Game 1: Pistons at Knicks | Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. | ESPN
  • Game 2: Pistons at Knicks | TBD
  • Game 3: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
  • Game 4: Knicks at Pistons | TBD
  • Game 5: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*
  • Game 6: Knicks at Pistons | TBD*
  • Game 7: Pistons at Knicks | TBD*

(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks

  • Game 1: Bucks at Pacers | Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. | ESPN
  • Game 2: Bucks at Pacers | TBD
  • Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | TBD
  • Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | TBD
  • Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | TBD*
  • Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | TBD*
  • Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | TBD*

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Thunder | Sunday, April 20
  • Game 2: TBD at Thunder | TBD
  • Game 3: Thunder at TBD | TBD
  • Game 4:Thunder at TBD | TBD
  • Game 5: TBD at Thunder | TBD*
  • Game 6: Thunder at TBD | TBD*
  • Game 7: TBD at Thunder | TBD*

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) TBD

  • Game 1: TBD at Rockets | Sunday, April 20
  • Game 2: TBD at Rockets | TBD
  • Game 3: Rockets at TBD | TBD
  • Game 4: Rockets at TBD | TBD
  • Game 5: TBD at Rockets | TBD*
  • Game 6: Rockets at TBD | TBD*
  • Game 7: TBD at Rockets | TBD*

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers | Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. | ABC
  • Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD
  • Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD
  • Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD
  • Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD*
  • Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | TBD*
  • Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | TBD*

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

  • Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD
  • Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD
  • Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD
  • Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD*
  • Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | TBD*
  • Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | TBD*

Conference semifinals

The conference semifinals is scheduled to begin on May 5-6, but could possibly move up to May 3-4 depending on outcomes of first round.

Conference finals

All times Eastern. *-if necessary

Eastern Conference Finals

(Possible series move up to May 19)

  • Game 1, May 21: TNT, 8 p.m.
  • Game 2, May 23: TNT, 8 p.m.
  • Game 3, May 25: TNT, 8 p.m.
  • Game 4, May 27: TNT, 8 p.m.
  • Game 5, May 29: TNT, 8 p.m.*
  • Game 6, May 31: TNT, 8 p.m.*
  • Game 7, June 2: TNT, 8 p.m.*

Western Conference Finals

(Possible series move up to May 18)

  • Game 1, May 20: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 2, May 22: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 3, May 24: ABC, 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 4, May 26: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 5, May 28: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
  • Game 6, May 30: ESPN, 8:30 p.m.*
  • Game 7, June 1: ESPN, 8 p.m.*

2025 NBA Finals schedule

*-if necessary

  • Game 1, June 5: ABC
  • Game 2, June 8: ABC
  • Game 3, June 11: ABC
  • Game 4, June 13: ABC
  • Game 5, June 16: ABC (if necessary)
  • Game 6, June 19: ABC (if necessary)
  • Game 7, June 22: ABC (if necessary)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Damian Lillard injury update: Is Bucks star healthy for NBA playoffs?

Damian Lillard is improving, but he remains out indefinitely as the Milwaukee Bucks begin the NBA playoffs this weekend.

The team issued a medical update concerning Lillard on Tuesday on the heels of reports that stated he would miss the start of the team’s 2025 postseason run. Lillard missed the final 14 games of the regular season after experiencing deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot) in his right calf last month.

The Bucks expressed optimism about their star point guard’s recovery process on Tuesday and noted he would continue to increase his on-court basketball activity. But General Manager Jon Horst offered no specific timetable for Lillard’s potential return ahead of the playoffs. But a league source told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Lillard will not be cleared to play in time for the start of the postseason.

The Bucks are scheduled to begin their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Damian Lillard injury status

Lillard’s exact path to medical clearance and a return for the playoffs is still unclear.

“Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved, which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity,” Horst said in a statement. “Damian’s health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian’s progress.”

Tuesday’s update concerning Lillard follows positive reports in recent weeks from Bucks coach Doc Rivers. Lillard appeared in 58 games during his second season playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, and averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists.

The Bucks began last year’s NBA playoffs without Antetokounmpo in the lineup and then were beaten by the Pacers in their 2024 first-round series when Antetokounmpo could not return in time to play.

Lillard’s injury was initially thought to be a calf strain. His initial treatment after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis included the use of blood thinners. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

Top Hegseth advisor Dan Caldwell placed on administrative leave by Defense Department

A top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday and placed on administrative leave, according to a Defense Department official. 

Reuters first reported Caldwell had been placed on leave for an ‘unauthorized disclosure’ of information amid an investigation into Pentagon leaks. An official confirmed to Fox News Digital that Reuters’ reporting is accurate but declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. 

Caldwell previously worked at restraint-minded think tank Defense Priorities and Concerned Veterans for America, a group formerly led by Hegseth. A foreign policy realist, he has argued that the U.S. should dramatically reduce its footprint in Europe and pull out forces in Iraq and Syria. 

Last month, the Defense Department announced a probe into ‘recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information’ and said it planned to use polygraphs to determine the source of leaks. 

‘The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,’ DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper wrote in a memo. ‘This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.’

He wrote that ‘information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure’ would be referred for criminal prosecution.

Caldwell did not immediately reply to a request for comment. 

Caldwell’s closeness to the defense secretary was underscored in the unintentionally leaked Signal chat on Houthi strikes, where Hegseth named him as the Pentagon point of contact for the offensive campaign. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Sports

Iconic stadium gets nod as 2028 Olympic baseball host site

One of baseball’s most picturesque ballparks will be the sport’s home base for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

LA28, the city’s Olympic organizing committee, announced Tuesday that historic Dodger Stadium – home of the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers – will host the tournament when baseball returns as an official Olympic sport in 2028.

It won’t be the first time the best baseball players from around the globe have competed against each other in Chavez Ravine. The championship round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic was held there as Team USA defeated Puerto Rico 8-0 for the title. In addition, baseball was played as an exhibition sport when Los Angeles last hosted the Summer Games in 1984.

Baseball didn’t become an official Olympic sport until 1992.

It’s been contested a total of six times during the Summer Games, the last being in Tokyo in 2021. The USA lost that year to host Japan in the gold-medal game.

Other L.A. Olympic sports sites

In addition to baseball at Dodger Stadium, several other venues in the greater Los Angeles area that are familiar to pro and college sports fans will be used for Olympic competition.

  • Basketball: Intuit Dome (L.A. Clippers)
  • Golf: Riviera Country Club
  • Gymnastics/Boxing: Crypto.com Arena (L.A. Lakers/Sparks/Kings)
  • Rugby/Archery: Dignity Health Sports Park (L.A. Galaxy)
  • Soccer: Rose Bowl
  • Swimming: SoFi Stadium (L.A. Rams/Chargers)
  • Track & Field: Los Angeles Coliseum (USC, UCLA)
  • Volleyball: Honda Center (Anaheim Ducks)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Sports

Injury ends career of longtime NHL captain

Couture, 36, also was limited to six games in 2023-24 because of osteitis pubis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the inflammation of the joint between the pubis bones causes pain and swelling in the groin or lower abdomen. He last played on Jan. 31, 2024.

Couture had spent his entire 15-year career with the Sharks after being selected ninth overall in the 2007 draft. He was named captain in 2019.

He was best known for his prowess in the playoffs, where he scored 101 points in 116 postseason games.

That includes a league-best 20 assists and 30 points when the Sharks went to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. He also led the 2019 playoffs with 14 goals in 20 games.

Couture, who has two years left on his contract, finishes his playing career with 323 goals (including 55 game-winners), 378 assists and 701 points in 923 regular-season games.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

AOC claims Republicans will ‘trick’ Americans into identity politics, stoking racial divisions

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told rally attendees not to let Republicans ‘trick’ them into thinking they ‘can be separated’ by race or into stoking ‘deep divisions along race, identity and culture,’ despite President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to rid identity politics from public and private spaces.

The progressive ‘Squad’ lawmaker’s comments came at a ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ rally Monday night in Idaho alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. It was the pair’s latest stop in a tour of appearances across the country. 

‘The only chance they have to get away with such an unpopular and hurtful agenda is to stoke deep divisions along race, identity and culture to keep us fighting and distracted. It’s not going to work anymore,’ AOC told rally goers. ‘Don’t let them trick us into thinking we are enemies. Don’t let them trick us into being weak and being into thinking we can be separated into rural and urban, black and white and Latino.’

The rally with AOC and Sanders was largely centered around criticizing ‘billionaire’ oligarchs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and President Donald Trump, who, as president, has been leading an anti-DEI push that is aimed at ridding identity politics from public and private spaces.

In fact, per political analyst and regular MSNBC contributor Eddie Glaude, identity politics was ‘at the heart’ of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ election loss to Trump. 

‘The only thing that was woke or representational about [Kamala Harris’] campaign was her, her body, the fact that she was a woman of color. So I think that the concern, the so-called backlash, to tending to the diversity of the nation actually proves the point,’ Glaude said in an interview with NPR shortly after Republican’s November election victories. 

Meanwhile, since being inaugurated, Trump has implemented executive actions explicitly targeting ‘identity politics.’

‘Prior to harmful changes introduced by the Obama and Biden administrations, the United States military offered equality of opportunity to every American capable of and interested in serving their country. Yet these two administrations exploited the military in favor of identity politics—harming our national defense, undermining the non-political nature of our military, and eroding morale and recruitment,’ Trump wrote in one of his first Executive Orders after being sworn in. ‘Due to this ‘woke’ assault, the Services together logged their lowest recruiting records since 1940 with a 41,000-troop shortfall in 2023.’

Trump has also taken steps to rid DEI from universities, the federal government and even the private sector. 

According to Trump, it was Democrat President Joe Biden who implemented ‘illegal and immoral discrimination programs,’ which often tied individual success to immutable factors like race, sex and ethnicity. 

‘President Trump is restoring fairness and accountability in federal hiring, and terminating DEI across the federal government,’ reads a March fact sheet from the White House.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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