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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander announces retirement following 2026 season

Longtime MLB pitcher Justin Verlander announced Wednesday that he will retire following the 2026 season, bringing an end to an illustrious 21-year career.The 43-year-old Detroit Tigers right-hander revealed the decision shortly after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred named him an American League “Legend Pick” for next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Although injuries will prevent Verlander from pitching in the exhibition, the selection marks his 10th career All-Star appearance

Alexander Zverev defeats Taylor Fritz to secure first Wimbledon semifinal berth

Alexander Zverev advanced to his first-ever Wimbledon semifinal on Wednesday, securing a dominant straight-sets victory over American Taylor Fritz at the All England Club. The second-seeded German controlled the match from start to finish on Court No. 1, dispatching the No. 6 seed 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in just under two hours.The victory represents a major milestone for Zverev, the newly crowned French Open champion, who managed to snap a persistent seven-match losing streak against Fritz. Though Fritz

Scotty McCreery celebrates 15 years in music with retrospective album ’15’

Fifteen years after his breakthrough audition on American Idol, Scotty McCreery is marking the milestone with a new retrospective album titled ’15,’ arriving July 17.The project highlights some of the country star’s biggest career moments while also introducing several fresh recordings. Reflecting on the anniversary, McCreery shared, “Man, fifteen years go by like a flash.” He noted that while his first American Idol audition in Milwaukee sometimes feels recent, at other times it fee

Walker Montgomery revives classic romance with new single “I Don’t Think I Will”

Rising country artist Walker Montgomery is embracing timeless love songs with the release of his latest track, “I Don’t Think I Will,” out now.Penned by Doug Johnson and produced by Bart Butler, the song reflects the traditional country sound Montgomery grew up loving. “Classic-sounding country love songs are back! ‘I Don’t Think I Will’ has always been one of my favorite songs. Being able to give this song a whole new life and introduce it to a new generation is something I’ve been really looki

Justin Bieber added to first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show

Justin Bieber has been added as a co-headliner for the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, expanding an already high-profile lineup for the championship match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.FIFA announced that Bieber will perform alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS during the 11-minute production, marking a historic first for the men’s World Cup final. The show is being produced in partnership with Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay frontman Chri

U2 share ‘Street of Dreams’ video as first preview of long-awaited new album

U2 have released the official music video for their new single, “Street of Dreams,” marking the first taste of the band’s forthcoming studio album, their first collection of new material since 2017’s Songs of Experience. Produced by Jacknife Lee, the track reunites Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., whose return follows recent health-related setbacks, as the group builds toward a landmark year that includes the 50th anniversary of its formation later this year.The video, fi

Eddie Vedder releases the track ‘Better Believe’ in collaboration with Chicago-area youth musicians

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has shared his new solo track, “Better Believe,” which he debuted during the opening celebration of the Obama Presidential Center, using the occasion to spotlight young artists from the nonprofit organization Guitars Over Guns. Rather than perform familiar material, Vedder introduced the original song developed alongside Chicago-area students participating in the music mentorship program.“Better Believe” was written with members of Guitars Over Guns, an organizati

Jonas Brothers add third date to their return to Madison Square Garden to celebrate their ‘Burnin’ Up Tour’

Due to popular demand, The Jonas Brothers have added a third night to their previously-announced return to New York’s Madison Square Garden.The special performances will take place on Aug. 20, 21 and 22, reviving one of the defining moments of their career with a new event titled The Burning Up Tour All Over Again.  The limited-run engagement celebrates the trio’s landmark 2008 Burning Up Tour, which helped establish Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas as one of pop music’s biggest touring acts.Rather tha

Nome celebrates Independence Day under sunny skies

By Ariana Crockett O’Harra Nome celebrated the United States of America’s 250th birthday since the Declaration of Independence under blue and sunny skies.  Nomeites began to gather on Front Street just before 11 a.m. for the parade and following celebrations. Kids and adults were decked out in red, white and blue, showing off their patriotic spirit. The air smelled like hot dogs fresh off the grill from the Nome Kennel Club’s hot dog sale.  The parade was led by flagbearers from VFW Post #9569

Big donor to campaign to end open primaries charged in big Medicaid fraud case

A big political donor whose name is prominently displayed on every political ad promoting the campaign to end open primaries and ban ranked choice voting has been charged in connection with a $619,000 Medicaid fraud case.Here is the court complaint against Kyle Bates, 48, and others.Scott Kendall is right to call this a big scandal in the making and to ask why the $25,000 that Bates donated has not been refunded by the group that wants to bring back closed primaries.Bates is such a major financi

Since the One Big Beautiful Bill was enacted last year, are you financially better off?

Choices Yes No Same

French filmmakers travel to Nome to research Lillian Alling

By Ariana Crockett O’Harra “Mystery Woman Continues Journey to Nome,” read the headline in The Nome Nugget newspaper on August 3, 1929. The so-called Mystery Woman referenced was Lillian Alling, a Polish immigrant who had spent the previous three years traveling across North America from New York City, hoping to cross the Bering Strait and making her way back home to Poland. That article in the Nugget and a following article on August 31 were the last accounts of Alling before she disappeared f

Nome has a new cab service

By Diana Haecker Over seven months Nomeites and visitors had to make do without any  operating taxicab service in Nome, but as of this week a Nome couple decided to register a cab business, getting their chauffeurs licenses and starting to offer taxi services beginning July 8. On Monday, with the entire Nome press corps consisting of the Nugget newspaper and KNOM radio present, Nome’s City Clerk Brad Soske handed Billi Jean Miller-Earp and her wife Ashley Miller-Earp the necessary paperwork to

Nicholai Olson wins Anvil Mountain Run

By Ariana Crockett O’Harra The Anvil Mountain Run started not on the customary Fourth of July, as it has for 48 years, but on the day before. Organizers, after consulting with racers, decided to race on Friday, July 3 to give everyone the most of the long weekend as many wanted to escape town to spend the holiday at camp. Nicholai Olson took first place with a time of one hour, 22 minutes and 58 seconds. First place for women and sixth place overall was Anna McPherson, finishing in one hour, 38

Town Crier for Homer events

<p>Public announcements for local nonprofits, community groups and individuals. </p>

Joint celebration of life planned next week for Cordova mother and son

Loved ones of a late Cordova mother and son duo will be hosting a celebration of life next week at St. Joseph&#8217;s Catholic Church. The celebration of life on July 16 will honor Kathy Zamudio, who died in Washington unexpectedly in 2024, and her son Enrique Zamudio, a Cordova High School alum who died in 2016 just three months after his high school graduation.Originally from Arizona, Kathy moved to Ketchikan in 1986 with her husband and worked at the Ketchikan General Hospital, Holy Name Scho

Graham Platner drops out of Maine U.S. Senate race

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner claims victory in the Democratic primary during a watch party in Blue Hill on June 9, 2026. (By Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, two days after an accusation of sexual assault tanked support from his party. “This is incredibly difficult because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not,” Platner said in an 11 minute video posted to

Alaska lawmaker violated ethics law using official letterhead to condemn news story

Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)A legislative ethics committee found that Homer Republican Rep. Sarah Vance violated Alaska ethics law when she used official legislative letterhead to publicly condemn a Homer News story last September. The story was about a local vigil she helped organize for Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist who was assassinated last year. The House Subcommittee on the Select Committee on L

Trump faces looming deadline to sign popular bipartisan housing package

President Donald Trump faces a decision by 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, on a bipartisan housing bill passed by large majorities in Congress. In this photo, Trump attends a meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)President Donald Trump is running out of time to decide what to do with a bipartisan bill meant to lower housing costs by making it easier to build.If Trump does not sign the measure, it would become law at 12:01 a.m.

Anchorage and feds settle port lawsuit, securing $180M for modernization project

The Municipality of Anchorage and federal government are settling a protracted lawsuit over botched construction at the Don Young Port of Alaska two decades ago. "This is a massive victory," ...