Congressional Black Caucus Backs Maxine Waters as Democrats Face Leadership Battle Over Powerful House Committee

Rep. Yvette Clarke pledges unwavering support for Waters as Illinois Democrats Sean Casten and Bill Foster emerge as potential challengers for the top Democratic position on the House Financial Services Committee.

WASHINGTON | The Congressional Black Caucus is rallying behind Rep. Maxine Waters as the veteran California Democrat faces a growing leadership challenge that could reshape the Democratic Party's direction on financial regulation, economic policy and generational change in Congress.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, declared the organization's unwavering support for Waters to remain the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, positioning the influential caucus as a major political force in an increasingly competitive leadership contest.

The endorsement comes as Democrats confront an internal debate over whether experience and institutional knowledge should outweigh demands for younger leadership in some of the House's most powerful committees.

“Given Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ deep expertise and leadership as the former chair and current ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee—the first woman and first Black woman to serve in both positions—she is uniquely positioned to lead the Committee in the 120th Congress,” Clarke said in a statement.

“The Congressional Black Caucus is unwavering in its support of Congresswoman Waters’ bid to lead the Committee.”

Waters Faces Growing Challenge From Illinois Democrats

Waters, 88, has served as the committee's top Democrat since 2013, establishing herself as a prominent voice on banking oversight, consumer financial protection, housing affordability and Wall Street accountability.

But her lengthy tenure is drawing scrutiny from Democrats seeking a leadership transition.

Why Young Men Are Gambling on the American Dream — and Losing More Than Money

As housing costs climb, wages struggle to keep pace and financial security feels increasingly unattainable, a generation of young American men is turning to sports betting, cryptocurrency and prediction markets in search of a shortcut to prosperity. The growing appetite for financial risk is raising troubling questions about economic opportunity, consumer protection and Washington's responsibility.

The new American gamble: When getting rich feels easier than getting ahead for generations, the American Dream rested on a familiar promise: Work hard, save consistently, purchase a home and build a more secure future. But for a growing number of young American men, that traditional path to prosperity appears increasingly out of reach.

In its place, a different financial philosophy is taking hold — one built around sports betting apps, cryptocurrency speculation, prediction markets and the possibility that a single successful wager could accomplish what years of disciplined saving cannot.

The calculation is deceptively simple: If $10,000 cannot buy a house, perhaps it can finance a gamble that turns into $100,000.

It is a seductive proposition in an economy where housing affordability remains a formidable obstacle and financial advancement can feel disconnected from the traditional rewards of employment.

Yet beneath the promise of overnight wealth lies a more complicated story about economic anxiety, technological innovation, regulatory decisions and the psychological consequences of a generation increasingly skeptical that conventional financial rules still work.

Trump-backed Freedom Fuel gas stations face scrutiny over fuel theft allegations, ownership and safety violations

A discount gasoline network promoted by President Donald Trump is facing questions about its business operations after a nearly $4 million fuel dispute, regulatory penalties and lawsuits involving companies connected to its operators.

WASHINGTON | A network of discount gas stations promoted by President Donald Trump as an example of private businesses helping Americans cope with rising fuel prices is facing increased scrutiny over allegations of unpaid fuel, regulatory violations and questions about the companies operating the stations.

Freedom Fuel Network, which began operating in Pennsylvania and New Jersey this summer before expanding to Detroit, attracted national attention after Trump praised its promotional gasoline prices of $3.47 per gallon — a reference to his position as the nation's 47th president.

But behind the patriotic branding and White House endorsements, the network's business relationships have become the subject of legal disputes and questions about how its operators could sustain prices significantly below those of competing retailers.

Auburn Stuns No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Alex McPherson's Last-Second Field Goal

Byrum Brown rushes for 115 yards, Cody Sigler forces decisive fumble as Tigers end 21-year drought at Sanford Stadium with historic SEC upset.

ATHENS, Ga. | Alex McPherson kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired, and Auburn stunned No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday at Sanford Stadium after forcing a critical fumble in the final minute of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.

The victory marked Auburn's first win at Georgia since 2005 and just its second road triumph over a top-ranked opponent in program history, the first since 1994.

Auburn (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) overcame an early 14-point deficit, scored 24 unanswered points and survived a late Georgia comeback before delivering the decisive blow.

With the game tied at 24, defensive lineman Cody Sigler forced Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton to fumble, and Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered at Auburn's 44-yard line. The Tigers advanced to the Georgia 19, setting up McPherson's game-winning kick.

"When they turned it over, I knew my guys were going to get me into range," McPherson said. "Just go out and execute and have their back."

The kick secured Auburn's first walk-off field goal in regulation since Wes Byrum's game-winner against Oregon in the 2010 national championship game.

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown delivered a dual-threat performance, completing 15 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown while rushing 26 times for 115 yards and another score.

Brown became just the second Auburn quarterback in the past 40 years to rush for 100 yards against Georgia, joining former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.

Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) appeared headed toward another convincing victory after scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions.

Auburn Swimming and Diving Rolls Past Georgia Tech 462-324 as Three Tigers Deliver Historic Performances

Zoey Zeller, Zetta Grace Bartee and Lora Komoroczy crack Auburn's all-time top-25 lists as Tigers dominate women's competition and secure men's victory in Atlanta.

ATLANTA | Auburn swimming and diving delivered a commanding performance against Georgia Tech, winning 462-324 as three Tigers recorded times among the fastest in program history.

Auburn's women dominated their matchup 293-99, while the men's team secured a 225-169 victory. Zoey Zeller, Zetta Grace Bartee and Lora Komoroczy highlighted the competition with performances that earned places in Auburn's all-time rankings.

Komoroczy led the Tigers in the women's 100-yard backstroke, winning in 51.74 seconds, the 24th-fastest performance in program history. It marked her ninth appearance on Auburn's all-time top-25 performance list.

Ellis Fox finished third in 53.51, followed by Maggie McGuire (55.26) and Annika Finzen (55.28), giving Auburn four of the top five finishers.

No. 14 Tennessee Stuns No. 6 Alabama 26-10 as DeSean Bishop Powers Volunteers to SEC Victory

Bishop scores twice in second half, Tennessee forces four turnovers and holds Crimson Tide to 201 yards in rivalry showdown at Neyland Stadium.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | DeSean Bishop rushed for two second-half touchdowns, and No. 14 Tennessee forced four turnovers to defeat No. 6 Alabama 26-10 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, handing the Crimson Tide its second loss of the season in the 109th meeting between the Southeastern Conference rivals.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) controlled the game from the opening possession, outgaining Alabama 347-201 and shutting out the Crimson Tide in the second half. The Volunteers built a 12-10 halftime lead behind four field goals from Cooper Ranvier before Bishop delivered the decisive touchdowns.

Alabama (5-2, 3-2) struggled to establish offensive consistency, committing four turnovers and managing just one touchdown against a Tennessee defense that kept quarterback Keelon Russell under pressure throughout the afternoon.

Russell completed 19 of 29 passes for 147 yards with two interceptions. He provided Alabama's only touchdown on a 19-yard scramble in the second quarter but could not generate another scoring drive after halftime.

Alabama Softball Sweeps Fall Doubleheader With Shutout Wins Over Jones College, West Alabama

Crimson Tide outscore opponents 17-0 as Kaitlyn Pallozzi strikes out 14, Mari Hubbard homers and Alabama's pitching staff dominates at Rhoads Stadium.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Alabama softball continued its impressive fall exhibition schedule Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader with shutout victories over Jones College and West Alabama at Rhoads Stadium.

The Crimson Tide defeated Jones College 10-0 in a 10-inning contest before completing the sweep with a 7-0 victory over West Alabama, combining strong pitching, timely hitting and error-free defensive play.

Alabama's pitching staff held both opponents scoreless across 17 innings, highlighted by Kaitlyn Pallozzi's dominant performance against West Alabama. Pallozzi struck out 14 batters and allowed just two hits in a seven-inning complete-game shutout.

Against Jones College, Kailey Plumlee worked six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts before Vic Moten added four shutout innings in relief, striking out four.

Alabama coach Patrick Murphy praised his team's execution on both sides of the ball.

"The defense was awesome," Murphy said. "We've only had one error so far this fall, so I'll take that any day."

The Crimson Tide established control early against Jones College when Torynn Slaughter delivered an RBI single in the first inning. Alabama added two runs in the second, including a solo home run from Mari Hubbard, before Paige Stanfield's RBI double made it 4-0 in the third.

No. 22 LSU Blanks No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0 as Sam Leavitt Throws Four Touchdowns

Leavitt passes for 289 yards, Jackson Harris catches two touchdowns and LSU's defense delivers its first home shutout of an SEC opponent since 2006.

BATON ROUGE, La. | Sam Leavitt threw four touchdown passes, including two to Jackson Harris, and No. 22 LSU dominated No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0 on Saturday at Tiger Stadium, delivering its first home shutout against a Southeastern Conference opponent in nearly two decades.

Leavitt completed 31 of 38 passes for 289 yards without an interception, directing an efficient LSU offense that scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. The Tigers' defense was equally impressive, forcing an interception and repeatedly denying Mississippi State on fourth down.

The shutout marked LSU's first at home against an SEC opponent since a victory over Kentucky on Oct. 14, 2006.

LSU seized control early when Leavitt capped an eight-play, 60-yard opening drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Wilson III, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 9:57 remaining in the first quarter.

LSU Men's Golf Eighth After Opening Round at Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational

Noah McWilliams fires a 1-under 71 to tie for sixth as Tigers finish first round at 6-over in Saucier, Mississippi.

SAUCIER, Miss. | LSU senior Noah McWilliams shot a 1-under-par 71 to lead the Tigers into eighth place Saturday after the opening round of the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational at Fallen Oak Golf Course.

LSU finished the first 18 holes at 6-over par, with McWilliams providing the Tigers' strongest performance on the par-72, 7,480-yard layout. The Louisiana native recorded five birdies and was tied for sixth individually entering the second round.

McWilliams was the only LSU golfer to break par, keeping the Tigers within striking distance of the teams ahead of them as the tournament continued.

Sophomores Dan Hayes and Hudson Lawson each carded a 2-over 74 to finish the opening round tied for 26th.

Lawson delivered one of LSU's strongest performances on the par-5 holes, posting a tournament-leading 4.00 scoring average. He recorded two birdies and an eagle on the longer holes, continuing his strong par-5 play early in his second season with the Tigers.

Senior Jay Mendell rounded out LSU's top four scorers with a 3-over 75, placing him in a tie for 35th. Despite finishing above par, Mendell led the tournament in par-4 scoring average at 3.90.

McWilliams' five-birdie performance highlighted an opening round in which LSU received contributions from both its veteran players and sophomore lineup.

The Tigers will look to climb the leaderboard in the remaining rounds, with McWilliams positioned for a potential top-10 individual finish.

The Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational brings collegiate golf competition to Mississippi's Gulf Coast, where LSU is seeking to build momentum as its season progresses.

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-- By Andre Leday

© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.

No. 1 Nebraska Sweeps Northwestern to Stay Unbeaten, Extends Perfect Start to 18-0

Cornhuskers dominate late in each set for 25-17, 25-14, 25-15 victory as Wildcats deliver one of the strongest blocking performances against Nebraska this season.

EVANSTON, Ill. | Top-ranked Nebraska continued its unbeaten run through the college volleyball season Thursday night, sweeping Northwestern 25-17, 25-14, 25-15 at Welsh-Ryan Arena to improve to 18-0 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten Conference play.

The Cornhuskers overcame an early challenge from Northwestern before taking control with decisive scoring runs, extending their perfect start while keeping the Wildcats winless in conference competition.

Northwestern (7-11, 0-7 Big Ten) showed resilience defensively, recording eight blocks to match its season high for a three-set match. The total was also the most by a Big Ten opponent against Nebraska this season, surpassing the six blocks recorded by Rutgers and Indiana.

Mara Stiglic led Northwestern with nine kills, while Campbell Paris helped fuel the Wildcats' early offensive success. Stiglic, Ellie Stiernagle and Maya Stillwell each contributed three blocks, and Lauren Dignan finished with nine digs.

The Wildcats challenged Nebraska throughout the opening set, battling through nine ties and staying even at 17-all. But the Cornhuskers seized momentum behind the serving of Andi Jackson, closing the set with eight consecutive points for a 25-17 victory.

Northwestern again started quickly in the second set, scoring four of the first five points and building a 5-2 advantage behind kills from Stiglic and Paris. Nebraska responded, with Kenna Cogill delivering a kill to tie the score at 8-all before the Huskers pulled away for a 25-14 win.

Nebraska carried that momentum into the third set, opening a 7-3 lead and forcing an early Northwestern timeout.

No. 25 Northwestern Stuns Michigan State 24-21 on Last-Second Field Goal

Jackson Kleather delivers a 34-yard game-winner after Brendan Flakes blocks a late field goal, completing Northwestern’s fourth-quarter comeback in a Big Ten thriller.

EAST LANSING, Mich. | Jackson Kleather kicked a 34-yard field goal with five seconds remaining, lifting No. 25 Northwestern to a dramatic 24-21 victory over Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

The Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit, survived a late Michigan State scoring threat and marched downfield in the final 65 seconds to secure a crucial Big Ten road victory.

Northwestern's comeback appeared in jeopardy when Michigan State moved into the red zone with less than two minutes remaining. But Brendan Flakes blocked a potential go-ahead field goal, preserving a 21-all tie and giving the Wildcats one final opportunity.

Northwestern capitalized. Griffin Wilde contributed 29 receiving yards on the decisive possession, setting up Kleather's third successful field goal of the afternoon.

"We're not going to play from a platform of fear," Northwestern coach David Braun said. "We were aggressive at the end of the game. Great stop by our defense; our offense goes down and executes — what a finish."