LIV Golf, the pro golf league backed by Saudi Arabia that was meant to rival the PGA Tour, is in limbo because the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund pulled financial backing after the 2026 season.
LIV was billed as the cool, modern, team-based, 54-hole golf league with a lot of cash from Saudi Arabia. At the time of its creation in 2021, it seemed too good to be true. Five years later, it&#8217;s on life support as tournaments have been postponed — and a scale-back effort is in place as the CEO tries to keep the business going for another year by looking for new investors.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O&#8217;Neil spoke publicly Tuesday at Trump National D.C. for the first time since the news broke that funding was going away. O&#8217;Neil kept his tone positive, saying he feels ready for the moment and is prepared to tackle the financial uncertainty behind his league.
&#8220;This moment for me &#8230; I understand uncertainty is difficult for some people, and I understand that not knowing what tomorrow brings can be a challenge,&#8221; O’Neil said. “This is 100 percent what I love to do, this moment. Everybody is meant for a certain thing in their life. I believe this is what I am meant for. I love this moment.&#8221;
The moment is intense, suddenly navigating without what seemed like an endless cash flow. O&#8217;Neil will have to restructure the business model for LIV, and that&#8217;s how the businessman is framing this next chapter — as a refresh, not a threat.
&#8220;First and foremost, we need to get the players settled, on board, and focusing on golf,&#8221; O’Neil said. &#8220;Secondly, we have to create a plan that&#8217;s a business plan, a business that works from a business standpoint, from a profit and loss standpoint, like every other business in the world, and we are well on our way to that.&#8221;
The league started with a lot of buzz after promising big checks and signing big names — including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka, among other PGA stars.
But viewership didn&#8217;t match the energy. Per Awful Announcing, for the 17 telecasts on Fox last year, LIV Golf averaged just 338,000 viewers, compared to its PGA Tour competition that averaged 2.66 million.
Koepka is back with the PGA Tour, but DeChambeau remains with LIV through his contract that ends after the 2026 season. The golf and online personality said on Tuesday that he would focus on YouTube if LIV failed. The golf star was once involved in a lawsuit with the PGA and hinted that golf&#8217;s premier league might not welcome him back with open arms.
Other LIV stars, including Jon Rahm, don&#8217;t have expiring contracts. Rahm said the LIV CEO has a &#8220;lot of hard work to do&#8221; to find funding for the league&#8217;s future, per Golf.com.
The current season isn&#8217;t in complete shambles, although a tournament set for June in New Orleans has been postponed. The tour continues in the nation&#8217;s capital this weekend before heading internationally to Korea at the end of May.
The first round of LIV Golf Virginia tees off Thursday at Trump National Golf Club.

Credit: Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Will A Saudi-Funded Golf League Survive Despite Low Ratings And Low Cash?

Golf

News

Sports

Trump

Washington D.C.

A Texas jury on Tuesday sentenced the FedEx driver who admitted to murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand to death.
Tanner Horner, who confessed last month to killing the young girl in 2022, stood expressionless as Judge George Gallagher delivered the sentence.
&#8220;It is therefore the order of this court that your punishment be death,&#8221; Gallagher <a href="https://x.com/CourtTV/status/2051758166690378069?s=20">said</a>.
Strand&#8217;s naked body was found in a creek on December 2, 2022, just about 40 miles north of the courtroom where Horner learned his fate. The judge said the execution would be carried out by lethal injection &#8220;before the hour of sunrise&#8221; at a future date.
After the verdict, Athena&#8217;s uncle, Elijah Strand, addressed Horner directly while fighting back tears.
&#8220;You did not just take a life, you destroyed a family,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You will be judged. You will face the wrath of God. And I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena&#8217;s story. Her name will forever be celebrated and everyone will forget you.&#8221;
Horner looked toward Strand as he spoke but otherwise showed little reaction in court.
Tuesday&#8217;s sentencing concluded a case that has devastated the Strand family since 2022. Horner was working as a FedEx delivery driver when he went to Athena&#8217;s father&#8217;s home. He told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his truck while backing out of the driveway, per <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/tanner-horner-trial-sentenced-death-penalty-kidnapping-murder-athena-strand/">CBS News</a>.
According to investigators, Horner said Athena did not appear seriously injured, but he panicked, placed her in his vehicle, and strangled her out of fear she would tell her dad what happened.
Horner pleaded guilty to his capital murder and kidnapping charges on April 7, just before his trial was set to begin. The case then moved into a two-week sentencing phase.
Dallas television station <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftsist8BhlA">WFAA</a> had access inside the courtroom during the sentencing hearings, where audio played of Horner strangling Athena inside the vehicle. At one point, Horner told Athena to take her shirt off, and she replied: &#8220;My mom says that you can&#8217;t do that to me.&#8221;
She started to scream as the sounds of Horner slamming her into the floor of his truck echoed through the courtroom, according to <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/05/us-news/killer-fedex-driver-who-murdered-little-athena-strand-sentenced-to-death/">The Post</a>.
Christmas songs can be heard on the FedEx truck&#8217;s radio. Horner sang along to &#8220;Jingle Bell Rock&#8221; as he strangled her with his bare hands, per the outlet.
Horner returned to the area the following day as search efforts were underway and denied any knowledge of the child&#8217;s disappearance, authorities said.
Under Texas law, the death sentence will automatically be appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images

FedEx Driver’s Punishment Set After After Kidnapping And Killing 7-Year-Old Girl

Murder

Texas

That's So Criminal

True Crime

Former NFL reporter Dianna Russini hits pause on her Spotify account after a playlist surfaces for &#8220;Mike&#8221; amid her scandal with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
First, there were photos; now, a playlist to add to the pile of online evidence showing the married Russini and Vrabel in a not-so-loyal light.
Thanks to <a href="https://x.com/DavidCovucci/status/2048914416704409689?s=20">David Covucci</a> of FOIAball, the online world is now aware of Russini&#8217;s playlist, titled &#8220;Turnin The Page,&#8221; that was shared with a user named Mike in December of 2022, which just so happens to coincide with a Tennessee Titans&#8217; four-game losing streak. Vrabel was the Titans coach at the time, which, of course, makes social media users believe Russini made Vrabel this playlist to help him turn the page on his season.
This could all just be happenstance, but according to <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/28/dianna-russini-spotify-playlist-mike-vrabel/#continued">TMZ</a>, the playlist includes songs Vrabel is known to play at practice.
The 15-song playlist starts out with &#8220;Cuff It&#8221; by Beyonce, followed by an array of genres including hits from Latto, Sam Hunt, Def Leopard, and KISS, among others.
If those artists sound good to you, unfortunately, Russini has scrubbed her entire Spotify profile after &#8220;Turnin The Page&#8221; went public and the &#8220;Mike&#8221; in question has now changed his profile name to &#8220;Tycar&#8221; — which, it can be argued, might be a combo of Vrabel&#8217;s two sons named Tyler and Carter.
The drama surrounding the former writer for The Athletic and current Patriots coach has exploded in recent weeks after cozy photos surfaced of the two this past March at a romantic resort in Arizona.
More bombshell photos released by <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/23/celebrity-news/dianna-russini-and-married-mike-vrabel-caught-kissing-at-nyc-bar-taken-6-years-before-scandal/">Page Six</a> showed the two kissing more than six years ago in New York.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/patriots-coach-makes-promise-as-smoochy-pics-add-to-russini-drama">Patriots Coach Makes Promise As Smoochy Pics Add To Russini Drama</a>
In the wake of the scandal, Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 and Vrabel said he would seek counseling, even missing Day 3 of the NFL Draft to prioritize family.
&#8220;My previous actions don&#8217;t meet the standard that I hold myself to,&#8221; Vrabel said ahead of the draft. &#8220;They don&#8217;t. And what I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps together and to give them what I told them I&#8217;d give them, which is the best version of me. And that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re going to do. And that&#8217;s going to start, and that has started, and that&#8217;ll continue this weekend, and it&#8217;ll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible.&#8221;
Vrabel returned to the Patriots Monday after taking Saturday and Sunday off to attend the counseling he vowed to. During the draft last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN that the coach&#8217;s situation does not fall under the NFL&#8217;s personal conduct policy and is instead a team matter.
Despite the public statements by Vrabel promising to be better for his family, neither he nor Russini have confessed to any kind of romantic affair.

Credit: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Stephen Maturen via Getty Images

A Spotify Playlist We Can’t Pause: The Dianna Russini And Mike Vrabel Scandal

Football

General

new england

Patriots

U.S.

The mistress and former assistant of disgraced ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore spoke out Friday in her first televised interview since Moore&#8217;s December arrest on stalking and home invasion charges.
Paige Shiver, 32, appearing on <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/assistant-felt-trapped-relationship-fired-michigan-coach-knew-132314433">Good Morning America,</a> reflected on her relationship with Moore, 40, describing it as controlling, and said she felt pressured throughout the affair, which began while she worked under Moore.
Shiver said she became pregnant during the relationship, but medical professionals encouraged her to abort the unborn child.
&#8220;Multiple doctors and experts told me that it wouldn&#8217;t be right or healthy for me to keep the baby,&#8221; Shiver said. Recalling how Moore responded to the news, she said he told her, &#8220;You have to do what&#8217;s right for your body.&#8221;
Shiver, who has Pompe disease, a serious muscle-weakening condition, said the relationship began in 2022 when she was an intern with the Michigan football program and Moore was the team&#8217;s offensive coordinator. In 2024, after Moore was promoted to head coach following Jim Harbaugh&#8217;s departure to the NFL, Shiver became his executive assistant.
Shiver said she initially believed she loved Moore but now sees the relationship differently.
&#8220;Looking back at things and really reflecting on what happened, what was happening &#8230; it&#8217;s not love at all,&#8221; Shiver said.
She said she tried to end the relationship multiple times but felt unable to do so because of Moore&#8217;s influence over her career.
&#8220;He and other coaches had control over my career, especially him,&#8221; Shiver said. &#8220;He could fire me in a second.&#8221;
Shiver also claimed Moore repeatedly pressured her to stay, telling her his life would fall apart without her.
&#8220;Every time I tried to pull away, he always had a story&#8230;always had a way to pull me in and making me feel that I couldn&#8217;t leave him because he was so miserable without me,&#8221; Shiver said.
The relationship came to a screeching halt after Shiver reported the affair to university officials. Moore was subsequently fired as Michigan&#8217;s head coach, where he had been earning $5.5 million annually.
Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel cited an &#8220;inappropriate relationship&#8221; with a staffer as the reason for Moore&#8217;s termination.
Shortly after his firing, Moore broke into Shiver’s home, where she says he grabbed butter knives and scissors, then threatened to kill himself.
&#8220;I hear footsteps, and they’re getting closer and louder … I run to my door to lock it, and he barges in,&#8221; Shiver said. &#8220;He comes in with his hood up, looking down at me, saying I ruined his life and is crying.&#8221;
Moore was initially charged with home invasion and stalking, offenses that carried potential prison time. But those charges were dropped last week as part of a plea deal. Moore pleaded no contest to trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunication device.
He was sentenced to 18 months&#8217; probation and ordered not to contact Shiver.
Moore&#8217;s wife, Kelli, has stood by him during his court appearances.
Shiver said she believes the punishment was insufficient.
&#8220;I think he should have gotten more punishment for what he did,&#8221; she said.
Shiver is no longer employed by the university. Moore was replaced by former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.

Credit: Good Morning America

Tearful Mistress Says She Had To Abort Baby During Affair With Former Michigan Coach

College Football

Michigan

Sherrone Moore

It&#8217;s NFL Draft Day, but the main story heading into Round 1 on Thursday night is the off-the-field drama between New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter for The Athletic, Dianna Russini.
New pictures of the pair dropped on Thursday, showing the two kissing in New York six years before photos taken in March, which showed them canoodling in Arizona, ignited the current scandal.
<a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/23/celebrity-news/dianna-russini-and-married-mike-vrabel-caught-kissing-at-nyc-bar-taken-6-years-before-scandal/?_gl=1*qh02gm*_ga*MTk1ODA5MzI4Ny4xNzYyMTk5MzYw*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3NzY5NjM2NTQkbzI2JGcxJHQxNzc2OTYzNjU1JGo1OSRsMCRoMA..">Page Six</a> published the bombshell photos showing Vrabel and Russini locking lips at a bar in New York City back in 2020 — just two weeks after the media outlet exposed Vrabel and Russini, both married, at an adults-only luxury resort in Arizona. The new photos add to the speculation that the two were romantically involved — and had been for some time.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dianna Russini and married Mike Vrabel caught kissing at NYC bar in bombshell new photos — taken 6 years before scandal <a href="https://t.co/WIPOoGKAWF">https://t.co/WIPOoGKAWF</a> <a href="https://t.co/4j1UpviNuy">pic.twitter.com/4j1UpviNuy</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2047345125655785908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;They were kissing and they were all over each other,&#8221; an eyewitness told Page Six. &#8220;He had a ring on.&#8221;
Vrabel, who has been married to his college sweetheart since 1999, was wearing his wedding ring during the New York rendezvous when Russini could be seen &#8220;in between [Vrabel’s] legs,&#8221; according to Page Six.
&#8220;They were having a glorious time. They were giving each other pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly,&#8221; the source told the outlet. &#8220;There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were. I don’t even think the bartenders did.&#8221;
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In 2020, Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Russini was with ESPN, covering the Titans closely.
Someone close to the situation told The Daily Wire it was well known that the two had an off-the-field relationship during this time.
Page Six reached out to Vrabel and Russini for comment on the photos Wednesday, and while the pair didn&#8217;t respond, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48566969/mike-vrabel-seek-counseling-not-patriots-day-3-nfl-draft">ESPN</a> reported late Wednesday that the Patriots coach would be skipping day three of the NFL Draft Saturday to go to counseling.
&#8220;As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,&#8221; Vrabel said. &#8220;This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.&#8221;
Vrabel told ESPN he plans to be with his wife, Jen, and their two sons outside of Massachusetts this weekend.
&#8220;I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result,&#8221; Vrabel said.
The 50-year-old vaguely addressed the Arizona incident with Russini on Tuesday, when he informed reporters that he&#8217;s had &#8220;difficult conversations&#8221; with his family, players, and staff.
&#8220;We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me,&#8221; he said during the press conference. &#8220;That starts with me.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/married-nfl-reporter-resigns-after-poolside-photos-with-coach-spark-scrutiny">RELATED: Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny</a>
Russini resigned from her senior position with The Athletic on April 14, stating in her resignation letter that she was leaving not because she &#8220;accept[s] the narrative,&#8221; but because she was refusing to give it &#8220;further oxygen.&#8221;
The 43-year-old has been married to her husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, since September 2020 — six months after the newly-released photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken.

coach_sports_reporter

Patriots Coach Makes Promise As Smoochy Pics Add To Russini Drama

Dianni Russini

Mike Vrabel

NFL Draft

Mike Vrabel addressed what he called &#8220;laughable&#8221; photos — of himself and now former NFL reporter Dianna Russini getting cozy in a bungalow in Arizona — on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the NFL draft.
The New England Patriots head coach has avoided the matter since <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Page Six</a> published the bombshell photos of Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hanging out in a hot tub together at an exclusive couples retreat in Sedona.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,&#8221; Vrabel said to open the April 21 press conference.
&#8220;I understand I could have, you know, addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday very candidly as we began our off-season program.&#8221;
The married father of two said he decided to address the photos because he didn&#8217;t want his players to have to answer questions about him before he could address the team. As he heads into his second season leading New England, Vrabel said he didn&#8217;t want the off-the-field drama to distract from the NFL Draft which starts Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Patriots have the 31st overall pick.
&#8220;We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,&#8221; Vrabel said. &#8220;We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction &#8230; the comments and questions that I&#8217;ve answered for the team and with the team, we&#8217;ll keep those private and to ourselves. I care deeply about this football team and I&#8217;m excited to coach them.&#8221;
Vrabel told the reporters this season he plans to attack each day with &#8220;humility&#8221; and &#8220;focus&#8221; while promising to be a better man.
&#8220;I can promise you, my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans most importantly, you will get the best version of me going forward,&#8221; Vrabel said.
As far as any disciplinary action for Vrabel&#8217;s personal interactions with Russini, who at the time of the March meet-up was an NFL reporter with The Athletic, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2026/04/20/mike-vrabel-dianna-russini-nfl-personal-conduct-policy-investigation/89700888007/">USA Today Sports</a> that Vrabel is not under investigation for any violation of the league&#8217;s personal conduct policy.
The policy, as it relates to non-NFL players, warns against &#8220;conduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others associated with the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.&#8221;
Russini, a long-time NFL insider for NBC, ESPN, and most recently The Athletic, resigned from the New York Times-owned publication April 14 after it was revealed that her actions were under internal investigation.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/married-nfl-reporter-resigns-after-poolside-photos-with-coach-spark-scrutiny">Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny</a>
Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020, and they share two children. Vrabel has been married to his college sweetheart since 1999.
When Vrabel was asked about Russini directly on Tuesday, he kept mum: &#8220;I respect and I appreciate every single question, but I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.&#8221;

Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Mike Vrabel Mounts PR Campaign Ahead Of NFL Draft, Ignores Questions On Dianna Russini Photos

Scandal

Titans

Up-and-coming singer D4vd, known for his viral R&amp;B pop hits, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl — months after a decomposed and dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla on September 8, 2025.
D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez — with additional charges of sexual abuse, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilation of human remains — the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Rivas Hernandez was last seen by her family in 2024, when she was only 13. She was described Monday by officials as a &#8220;runaway&#8221; and was 14 when she was allegedly killed by the 21-year-old singer. During Monday&#8217;s press conference, prosecutors alleged D4vd killed Rivas using a sharp object on or around April 23, 2025, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/d4vd-charges-celeste-rivas-hernandez-a5ae08c1dda921dad1750d3ceda16c47">Associated Press</a>.  She went to the singer&#8217;s house in the Hollywood Hills on that date and was never heard from again. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman alleged that D4vd mutilated her body about two weeks later. Months later, on September 8, her body was found decomposed and dismembered in two bags in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd.
&#8220;The condition of her remains delayed the medical examiner&#8217;s ability to be able to determine cause of death,&#8221; Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Monday at the press conference. &#8220;Despite these obstacles and despite intense public pressure, our robbery homicide division detectives remained steadfast in their duties. They recovered and analyzed a substantial amount of digital and forensic evidence. They stayed focused, disciplined, and committed to uncovering the truth.&#8221;
Hochman said during the news conference that the murder charges included special circumstances, which he explained were lying in wait, committing a crime for financial gain, and murdering the witness in an investigation — charges that could result in the death penalty.
&#8220;These charges include the most serious charges that a DA’s Office can bring, first-degree murder with special circumstances,&#8221; Hochman said.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rapper-arrested-months-after-dismembered-teen-found-in-his-tesla?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rapper+Arrested+Months+After+Dismembered+Teen+Found+In+His+Tesla">RELATED: Rapper Arrested Months After Dismembered Teen Found In His Tesla</a>
Hochman said evidence will show in court that the financial gain in this case is D4vd&#8217;s lucrative music career, and because Rivas Hernandez was a &#8220;witness&#8221; to something, killing her eliminated the risk that she could talk. Hochman said that D4vd was under investigation for the lewd and lascivious sexual acts, and Rivas was the witness to this. Per <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/20/d4vd-prosecutors-expected-to-announce-charges-in-celeste-rivas-hernandez-case/">TMZ</a>, the DA suggested that Rivas Hernandez had threatened to go to police or go public regarding their sexual relationship, so he invited her over and then killed her — which led to the &#8220;lying in wait&#8221; charge.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a parent of three children, and a parent&#8217;s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,&#8221; Hochman said.
An attorney for the singer told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/20/d4vds-family-speaks-out-after-murder-charges-in-celeste-rivas-hernandez-case/?adid=social-tw">TMZ</a>, &#8220;We are disappointed but not surprised that the District Attorney made this decision. David&#8217;s family stands behind him 100%.&#8221;
D4vd was arrested last week at his Hollywood Hills home after lying low for months. He canceled the remainder of his &#8220;Withered World Tour&#8221; after Rivas Hernandez&#8217;s remains were found.
It&#8217;s not clear yet whether the DA&#8217;s office will seek the death penalty, and Hochman said that would be decided at a later date. The coroner&#8217;s report is expected to be made public as well.
D4vd pleaded not guilty hours after the charges were filed, and demanded an immediate preliminary hearing, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/20/d4vd-pleads-not-guilty-celeste-rivas-murder/">TMZ reported</a> on Monday.

Credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella

TikTok Singer Racks Up Disturbing Charges In Murder And Dismemberment Of 14-Year-Old Girl

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It seems LIV Golf may be living on a prayer after reports claim Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is considering pulling funding from the tour that lured the biggest names away from the PGA just over four years ago.
The Financial Times reported Wednesday that the PIF is &#8220;on the verge&#8221; of slashing financial support for the league, while other outlets suggested LIV could be facing &#8220;imminent closure.&#8221;
The fund has poured millions in LIV Golf to rival the PGA Tour, but <a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/golf/liv-golf-saudi-funding-e7c19130?mod=Searchresults&amp;pos=2&amp;page=1">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported that financial support could end after the league struggled to attract a significant television audience in the United States.
Amid the dire reports, LIV Golf CEO Scott O&#8217;Neil told players and personnel Wednesday that the league is fully funded through the rest of the year and that reports of its imminent shutdown are &#8220;false,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.golfchannel.com/news/news/report-saudi-arabia-pif-on-the-verge-of-cutting-financial-support-for-liv-golf">Golf Channel.</a> O&#8217;Neil did not address funding beyond the 2026 season.
&#8220;Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,&#8221; O&#8217;Neil said.
The news comes as 50 players are teeing off for a LIV tournament outside Mexico City.
The potential timeline for any shutdown remains unclear, with The Journal reporting that Saudi officials are still weighing their decision. The outlet noted there is still a chance LIV could continue in some form depending on the outcome of those discussions.
The league&#8217;s undoing would be welcomed by some golf fans who have argued the rival tour has tarnished the game&#8217;s traditional reputation.
Since LIV&#8217;s launch, the league has faced government investigations, lawsuits, and other litigation, contributing to a lack of profitability on the world stage.
LIV lost nearly $600 million in 2024, according to The Journal, despite signing big names, including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, and Phil Mickelson.
In 2o22, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addressed the mass exodus of players from his league.
&#8220;The PGA Tour, an American institution, can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf,&#8221; Monahan said. &#8220;We welcome good, healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It’s an irrational threat.&#8221;
The tone shifted a year later when Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s PIF, appeared together to announce a framework agreement aimed at ending litigation and potentially reunifying the sport.
That effort ultimately stalled, leaving both tours operating independently, with the PGA now appearing to stand the test of time.

LIV Golf On The Ropes As Saudis Consider Yanking Funds

Brian Hooker is out of jail but remains under scrutiny, as police continue to consider the 59-year-old husband of missing boater Lynette Hooker a suspect in her mysterious disappearance in the Bahamas.
Lynette has been missing since April 4, when Brian claims she &#8220;bounced off the dinghy&#8221; near Elbow Cay while the couple was returning to their sailboat, Soulmate. He was detained for five days but has not been charged with a crime.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been 10 days, it&#8217;s been a long time, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever been apart from her in 25 years for this long,&#8221; Brian said in an interview with NBC News.
Brian told <a href="https://youtu.be/GQ6nE1NEcKM?si=wp6QcwoVBCUSox-q">NBC News</a> that investigators may be focusing on him due to the intense media attention surrounding the case.
The case has drawn widespread interest after Lynette&#8217;s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, and her mother, Darlene Hamlett, publicly raised questions about Brian&#8217;s account.
According to Brian, rough conditions and a strong current pulled Lynette away after she fell overboard.
However, a longtime Bahamas resident told The Daily Wire that the area where Brian claims Lynette went missing is typically calm and protected. The source, who requested anonymity, said the harbor is sheltered from rough waves and that waters between Elbow Cay and Lubber&#8217;s Island are often shallow and clear as glass, adding that land isn&#8217;t too far away.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Overboard: Off the Hook?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Prd_3ASU2gI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Aylesworth and Hamlett have both said Brian&#8217;s version of events does not make sense, noting that Lynette was a strong swimmer.
They also pointed to the couple&#8217;s past, including a 2015 domestic violence incident in Michigan. Lynette was arrested at the time, but Hamlett said her daughter had sustained a black eye and alleged that Brian had been physically abusive during their marriage, especially when drinking alcohol.
&#8220;I think they loved each other, but they were not good for each other,&#8221; she said.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-husbands-fell-overboard-story-hits-deadline-as-texts-and-recovered-apple-watch-surface">American Husband’s ‘Fell Overboard’ Story Hits Deadline As Texts And Recovered Apple Watch Surface</a>
Hamlett told Ashleigh Banfield on the &#8220;Drop Dead Serious&#8221; show that she had long feared something like this could happen.
&#8220;With the lifestyle that my daughter and her husband live, I had been preparing for that phone call for a long time,&#8221; Hamlett said.
Despite the family accounts, Brian has denied ever harming his wife.
&#8220;I said I’d never harm Lynette, and I never would harm Lynette, and I want to find Lynette,&#8221; Brian told NBC News.
As the search approaches two weeks, the chances of finding Lynette alive are diminishing. Her daughter is expected to arrive in the Bahamas on Wednesday to assist in the search.

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

Husband of Missing American Woman In Bahamas Released As Questions Emerge About His Story

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Longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini is stepping down from her senior position at The Athletic one week after <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Page Six</a> published bombshell photos of her canoodling with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Russini announced her resignation on Tuesday in a letter posted to <a href="https://x.com/DMRussini/status/2044144603536687279?s=20">X</a>.
&#8220;I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.&#8221;
The veteran reporter defended her record, citing more than 15 years in sports journalism at NBC, ESPN, and The Athletic.
&#8220;I have built a body of work I am proud of. I have broken stories, earned the trust of sources across the league and been guided by the highest standards of professional conduct. That record speaks for itself,&#8221; she wrote.
Russini said The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times, initially stood by her account of events that took place in March at a boutique hotel in Sedona, Arizona. However, she said subsequent media coverage fueled speculation she described as &#8220;unmoored from the facts.&#8221;
&#8220;This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.&#8221;
In a memo shared with The Athletic staff, Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg confirmed Russini&#8217;s resignation and said the outlet took the situation seriously from the start.
&#8220;When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,&#8221; Ginsberg wrote. &#8220;As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.&#8221;
Page Six reported that Russini and Vrabel were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-laughable-patriots-coach-mike-vrabel-downplays-poolside-photos-with-married-nfl-reporter">spotted</a> together at the Ambiente hotel on March 28. According to the outlet, they had breakfast, spent time by the pool, side-by-side in a hot tub, and were later photographed on a private rooftop area. The photos showed them holding hands and standing face-to-face, with the outlet also reporting they briefly danced together.
Russini and Vrabel are both married. Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020; the couple shares two sons. Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, after the two met at Ohio State. They have two sons as well.
In separate statements to Page Six, Russini and Vrabel both downplayed their interactions.
Russini said the photos &#8220;don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.&#8221;
Vrabel described the situation as an &#8220;innocent interaction&#8221; and called the images &#8220;laughable.&#8221;
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after a successful tenure at ESPN, where she covered the Tennessee Titans during Vrabel&#8217;s tenure as head coach.
Vrabel is coming off a Super Bowl appearance in his first season as head coach of the Patriots.

Credit: Cindy Ord/ustin Casterline via Getty Images

Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny

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An American man will soon learn whether he&#8217;s being charged in the recent disappearance of his wife while they were boating in the Bahamas.
Brian Hooker has been in custody in Freeport since Wednesday, when authorities arrested him in relation to his missing wife, Lynette Hooker. Brian claimed that she fell overboard from their small dinghy on April 4 at sunset. Since extending Brian&#8217;s custody an additional 72 hours on Friday, Bahamian officials have a deadline of 7:20 p.m. local time to either release Brian or charge him in connection to his wife&#8217;s disappearance, according to his lawyer, Terel Butler.
From the beginning, Brian has denied any foul play and insisted that Lynette simply fell overboard due to rough seas near Elbow Cay. Elbow Cay is a five-mile long cay in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, known for its shallow, clear waters where tourists and locals alike drop anchor and spend a day on the water.
&#8220;He definitely denies causing her death, and he still asks about her and is hopeful that she will be recovered,&#8221; Butler said Friday.
Brian reportedly called fellow sailors, Marnee and Blaine Stevenson, a day before his arrest and explained what had happened as the couple headed back on the dinghy to their sailboat, Soulmate.
&#8220;She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow, like 20-something knot winds that popped up,&#8221; Brian said.
Marnee and Blaine recorded the April 7 phone call with Brian and posted the video on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ICXVVWrgDc">YouTube</a> account. Marnee also shared text messages with CBS from a conversation with Lynette, during which the 55-year-old told Marnee she could not be out on the water with Brian.
&#8220;We were married 21 years. Our marriage lasted 6 weeks cruising,&#8221; Lynette wrote in the texts. &#8220;It was real bad. I can’t be out there with him.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Overboard: Lynette Hooker is Missing" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/86t8y3CshQc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
A flotation device has been recovered and since Lynette disappeared — and according to Lynette&#8217;s mother, Darlene Hamlett, her daughter&#8217;s Apple Watch was recovered — but Lynette still has not been located.
Brian&#8217;s lawyer said authorities are &#8220;close to a decision&#8221; on whether or not to charge Brian with a crime, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/bahamas-authorities-race-deadline-charge-cut-loose-husband-missing-american-woman?intcmp=xpal_truecrime">Fox News</a>.
&#8220;Even if they decided to charge him, it&#8217;s highly unlikely that he would go to court today,&#8221; Butler said. &#8220;So we will know by 7:20 p.m. today what their decision will be &#8230; It is possible that when a person has completed their time, that when they walk out, they can be re-arrested and time starts again.&#8221;
Butler said her client is &#8220;drained&#8221; from the interrogations and that he is &#8220;just hoping to have closure to be released so that he can continue to search to find out what has happened to his wife.&#8221;
Lynette&#8217;s mom joined the &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el7hVYiIy-U">Drop Dead Serious</a>&#8221; podcast, describing in detail how her daughter was repeatedly abused by Brian over their more than 20-year marriage.
&#8220;He has two sides to his personality, he can be very pleasurable, pleasant and he can be very vicious,&#8221; Hamlett said. &#8220;He threw her down on this bench &#8230; the boat has a little bench where you sit around the table in the galley. She landed on that, he was on top of her, he was choking her, and she felt something crack in her neck. She was so stiff-necked for a long time. I don&#8217;t know how or why, but she stayed on the boat that night &#8230; one of the conversations that they had while they were on the boat the next morning is he told her that he wished he had finished the job and thrown her overboard.&#8221;
Stories like the one Hamlett shared are why she, along with her granddaughter, Kylie Aylesworth, wanted a thorough investigation into Lynette&#8217;s disappearance.
Lynette has reportedly left Brian several times during their marriage and often documented the abuse with photos to help her not go back to him, according to Hamlett. Her daughter would often come stay with her in Florida when things with Brian were tumultuous, and every time Lynette returned to the Bahamas Hamlett said she believed it could be the last time she saw her daughter.
The 76-year-old said she doesn&#8217;t want to talk to Brian, but if she could talk to Lynette she would tell her daughter this: &#8220;I love you, and I wish you would have come home.&#8221;
The Daily Wire reached out to the United States Coast Guard, who is looking into the incident, and officials with the Coast Guard told us &#8220;we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.&#8221;

Credit: Lynette Hooker via Facebook

American Husband’s ‘Fell Overboard’ Story Hits Deadline As Texts And Recovered Apple Watch Surface

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/the-masters">Masters</a> Tournament is arguably the best week of the year. Every year in April, the grass looks a little greener, the air feels a little warmer, and baby fever is out of control thanks to the Masters Par 3 Contest.
The Par 3 Contest takes place every year at the beginning of tournament week. It&#8217;s the day where the professional golfers battle in a friendly nine-hole competition with their families as the caddies. No offense to the golfers — by the way, no Par 3 winner has ever gone on to win the Masters — but that competition is all about the kids dressed in their mini Augusta caddy outfits golfing with Dad, and my heart can barely handle the cuteness.
Seeing the pros go full-on &#8220;dad mode&#8221; makes me eager to make those memories one day with my family, not at Augusta obviously (my husband is more of a track guy), but in general! And I&#8217;m not the only one swooning over these adorable scenes. Here are the best moments from this year&#8217;s family-focused event.
Let&#8217;s tee off with none other than returning Par 3 Contest caddy Frankie Fleetwood and his post-round interviews.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;I&#8217;d like to thank everyone right now, I don&#8217;t know their names.&#8221; 🥹
Frankie Fleetwood will be back at the Par 3 Contest 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/hSE8Rq2WBz">pic.twitter.com/hSE8Rq2WBz</a>
— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2041994964800794858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
At this point, everyone is looking forward to the Par 3 Contest to see what Tommy Fleetwood&#8217;s eight-year-old son, Frankie, has to say. The guy takes his golf game seriously, and the kid has the swing to back it up. Fans chanted his name as he tried to clear Ike’s Pond at Augusta National.
&#8220;This afternoon I&#8217;m feeling good, so I feel like I&#8217;ve got a chance,&#8221; Fleetwood said ahead of hole 9.
And Frankie nearly did clear the pond!
&#8220;I’d like to thank everyone right now,” he said after his round as his father proudly looked on. &#8220;I don’t know their names, but yeah, I’d like to say thanks.&#8221;
Another moment that wowed is Meredith Scheffler showing up for her family just 12 days postpartum.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hat tip to Meredith Scheffler.
Gave birth 12 days ago. Out walking the Par 3 Contest at Augusta today. <a href="https://t.co/jPoHNrY5ZG">pic.twitter.com/jPoHNrY5ZG</a>
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamierkennedy/status/2041926909903122503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
Scottie Scheffler is a pro&#8217;s pro, but so far this week his wife, Meredith, is the real MVP walking the course with their 12-day-old son, Remy! The newborn couldn&#8217;t miss out on the Par 3 fun with his family, including brother Bennett who turns two next month. Meredith wore the famous caddy outfit alongside her two-time Masters champion husband as they watched Bennett chop away at the ball like I&#8217;ve never seen a toddler do before!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Scottie and Bennett Scheffler ❤️
Like father, like son 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/P4FaJhKZr0">pic.twitter.com/P4FaJhKZr0</a>
— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2041939922546721164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
The kids&#8217; putting champion of 2026 has to go to Cooper Harman, the daughter of Brian Harman. Cooper nailed an absolute laser of a putt, and her celebration where she runs straight into her dad&#8217;s arms will melt your heart.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cooper Harman puts her putting skills on display for dad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/themasters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#themasters</a> <a href="https://t.co/itAzwEu9Uo">pic.twitter.com/itAzwEu9Uo</a>
— The Masters (@TheMasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMasters/status/2041959463695896874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
You know you&#8217;re feeling good about the putt when you can happily skip away.
The Masters may be one of the most publicly pro-family sporting events. You see professional golfers when they&#8217;re in the zone, but you rarely see into their personal lives as husbands and dads. The Par 3 Contest showcases not just the love of the game, but also the joys of sharing life&#8217;s moments with the ones you love the most.

Credit: Kieran Cleeves/Augusta National/Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Image

Top Moments From The Masters Par 3 Contest Will Bring On Baby Fever

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