The ongoing saga involving Zach Werenski and the Blue Jackets has taken another unexpected turn.

Statements released by defenseman Werenski and Columbus GM Don Waddell on Wednesday aimed to clarify recent developments. They confirmed that Werenski intends to stay with the Blue Jackets, addressing reports that suggested he blocked a trade agreement on Tuesday.

Recently, trade speculations concerning Werenski intensified, linking the Norris Trophy awardee to teams like the Lightning and Maple Leafs. Sportsnet’s NHL insider, Elliotte Friedman, revealed a verbal agreement existed for a deal between Columbus and Dallas, which would have seen Werenski join the Stars in exchange for a package that included Thomas Harley.

However, it seems Werenski employed his no-move clause to prevent the trade from moving forward.

In his statement, Waddell sought to provide clarity on the discussions between both parties.

“During those discussions, we talked about me exploring opportunities to move him now and we all agreed if there was a deal to be made that I would bring it to him,” the GM said. “We found something that would work for the club and took it to him. After some time and discussions with his family, Zach informed us that he didn’t want to leave Columbus. He has invested a great deal in this organization and after coming close and falling short the past two seasons, his desire is to win here and get this team back into the playoffs.”

Werenski said he believed “everything got blown out of proportion.”

“I want to win and I want to do that in Columbus…It has been my home for the past 10 years and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket,” Werenski said. “I love my teammates and coaches and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that.”

Werenski finished the 2025-26 season with 81 points on 59 assists and 22 goals. He became the 10th defenseman in NHL history to lead his team in scoring in consecutive seasons and tied Artemi Panarin’s franchise record for assists in a single season.

On top of that, Werenski also assisted on Jack Hughes’s gold medal-winning goal in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

For now, it appears Werenski remains in Columbus, but the Blue Jackets are now without a captain as Boone Jenner has joined the Capitals.

On Sunday, authorities apprehended two individuals suspected of shoplifting at a Costco, where they allegedly tried to purchase goods using fake credit cards.

The incident, which unfolded around 3 p.m., took place in South Windsor, Connecticut, according to a statement from the South Windsor Police Department (SWPD) issued on Monday.

The duo, identified by police as 35-year-old Brittany A. Howard from the Bronx, New York, and 34-year-old Kasheem M. Williams from Brooklyn, are suspected to be serial shoplifters targeting Costco locations.

The SWPD reported, “Officers were dispatched to Costco at 1220 Tamarack Ave following reports of two individuals actively engaging in theft and attempting to complete transactions at the self-checkout using fraudulent credit cards.”

According to authorities, store staff had been warned that the same suspects had allegedly attempted a similar scheme at a Costco location in Enfield, roughly a 30-minute drive north. 

Responding officers later discovered 28 stolen financial documents, all under different names, inside the suspects’ vehicle, along with goods believed to have been stolen from the other Costco location, police said.

After the suspects were taken into custody, authorities said both individuals were found to have active out-of-state warrants.

Williams had an extraditable warrant out of Suffolk County, New York, on multiple charges including burglary, strangulation and assault. 

Howard was found to have an extraditable warrant out of Hudson County, New Jersey, on credit card theft charges.

Both suspects now face additional charges, including 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy.

Police said the pair were held on $250,000 surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court Monday morning. 

In a dramatic turn of events during the USA’s World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, standout player Folarin Balogun was ejected in the second half. The decision came as the US maintained a tenuous 1-0 lead in Santa Clara, igniting widespread controversy.

This dismissal is a significant setback for the USA, as Balogun, who has netted three goals in the tournament thus far, will be absent from Monday’s critical round of 16 clash against Belgium, one of Europe’s formidable teams. Regrettably, FIFA rules out any possibility of appealing against this ruling.

The incident occurred just after Balogun had positioned the USA ahead with his goal before halftime. He became entangled with Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic, inadvertently making contact with the back of his opponent’s heel.

Brazilian referee Raphael Claus took a second look at the challenge through the video replay monitors. After reviewing the slow-motion footage, he judged Balogun’s actions as serious foul play, subsequently handing him a straight red card, just past the hour mark.

Balogun appeared visibly shocked by the referee’s decision and had to be comforted by his teammates as he exited the field, leaving the outcome of the game uncertain.

Malik Tilmann later scored a free-kick to double the USA lead and secure a hard-fought 2-0 win but Balogun’s red undoubtedly tarnishes the victory. 

Brittany Mahomes, who was a soccer player at college, slammed the red card decision and led the furious backlash online, posting on Instagram: ‘That was some bulls***… All I have to say #USA.’ 

Her husband, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick, also took to social media to question the decision. ‘Man what……’, he wrote on his X account. 

Jason Kelce, preparing for his brother Travis to get married on Friday to Taylor Swift, took time out from wedding planning to vent at the decision.

‘Man, somebody help me. That foul looked incidental from Balogun, shouldn’t a Red Card be given if there is either intention to foul, or an action that is aggressive and unsafe in nature?’ Kelce wrote. 

‘Didn’t feel like Balogun was out of control or anything, just looked like it kind of happened.’

Another former NFL star, JJ Watt, was fuming at the decision.

‘Announcers should definitely be informing the audience that Balogun will miss next match, assuming we win tonight. Massive, massive implications there. Huge loss,’ he said, also posting about the decision: ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me….’

Meanwhile, ESPN host Pat McAfee shared a video on social media, as he declared his disbelief at the referee’s decision to send Balogun off. 

‘You can’t get a red card for that. Balogun gets red carded?! He’s our goalscorer!’

NFL legend JJ Watt was also quick to jump online and give his reaction. ‘What’s the phone number for the FIFA red card appeal hotline?’, he wrote on social media. 

Meanwhile, on FOX’s post-game coverage, legendary soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic made sure not to understate how big a loss this could be for the team. 

‘I believe it’s a big loss to be honest, he has been one of the best, if not the best player of the US team so far,’ the former Swedish international said on the broadcast. 

Thankfully, the decision didn’t have major ramifications in the game itself. Though the USA were down to 10-men for 30 minutes, they held on to secure a historic win. 

Not only did they hold on but, shortly after they doubled their advantage through Malik Tillman, who rifled a stunning free-kick into the back of the Bosnian net.

However, while the USA players and coaches soaked up the atmosphere at the final whistle, head coach Pochettino will no doubt have Balogun’s red card on his mind. 

It means that the in-form striker will have to sit out of their tie against Belgium on July 6. Back-up striker Ricardo Pepi will likely take his place for the Round of 16 clash. 

It was a brutal end to Balogun’s night – and potentially his World Cup – having been the hero for the national side earlier in the night, with his opening goal. 

After scoring in the first-half, Balogun produced LeBron James’ ‘Silencer’ celebration – and the NBA legend made sure to make note of it online. 

Taking to X, the 41-year-old wrote: ‘LFG!!!!!! THE [Silencer] HAS [landed] at the World Cup! Helluva goal there Young [king]!’. 

MORE TO FOLLOW 

CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities in Chicago have disclosed that charges have been filed against three men following an incident involving a CBS2 Chicago news team near the Adler Planetarium. The men allegedly attempted to provoke a dog to attack the crew while hurling racial insults, as per the police announcement on Wednesday.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

According to police reports, several men disembarked from a white vehicle and unleashed a dog in the direction of the news team’s photographer and reporter. The altercation occurred as they prepared for a live broadcast at 4 p.m. on Monday, during which the suspects also directed racial slurs at the journalists.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that they had interrogated three individuals regarded as persons of interest in the case.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The individuals charged have been identified as William Huerta, aged 41 from Chicago Ridge, Rafael Salinas, 29, based in Chicago, and Jon Twist, 37, also from Chicago. Each of them is facing multiple charges, according to police sources.

Twist’s charges include hate crime and criminal damage to property, CPD said. Huerta and Salinas are facing several other charges, including aggravated battery and assault.

When the dog did not attack on Monday, police said one of the men became angry and threw the crew’s camera equipment to the ground. Another man then smashed the windshield of the CBS2 Chicago live truck, police said.

The news photographer and reporter were not injured.

CBS2 Chicago addressed the incident in a statement Monday night, saying, “We are shocked and horrified by this crime and we are grateful that our journalists are safe.”

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Pulled from the pages of satirical news, the Babylon Bee often delights with its humorous takes.

In a surprising twist, San Diego County has announced a grand celebration for the 250th birthday of the United States, centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

But wait, this isn’t tongue-in-cheek humor.

This is not, in fact, one of the Babylon Bee’s fictional narratives; it is a real planned event. As part of the Independence Day festivities, San Diego County is organizing an identity-politics extravaganza.

Feeling intrigued? You might want to save the date for July 4 and join in the celebrations!

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted this year to align the county’s Independence Day event with “equity and racial justice” goals.

Per a social media post from the mayor of El Cajon, the three-hour program will feature: a “tribal intimate blessing welcoming to land”; a tribal invocation; the American and black national anthems; local tribal community stories; Latino community stories; Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community stories; LGBTQIA+ community stories; and black and African community stories. 

Whew. It’s exhausting just to read about.

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But more to the point: all of this … on July 4 of America’s 250th year? What message does the county of San Diego mean to send?

Not one that elevates fun, family, unity, respect, gratitude and patriotism — traditional Independence Day fare.

Instead, the county stoops to woke pandering.

Extolling favored groups on the nation’s birthday is e pluribus unum in reverse: ex uno, plura.

It’s divisive. It’s ill-timed. And it’s disrespectful to the nation, to its founding values and to the US Armed Forces who have fought and sometimes died to guard the rights the grievance crowd takes for granted.

In the very recent past, Americans of all stars and stripes could agree on some things, including the Fourth of July and its fun family patriotic fare.

Remember the iconic jingle, “We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet?”

Those were days when Americans united around major holidays, around a shared heritage of freedom and around pride in a country that’s the freest in the world.

No longer.

These days, the scolds can’t be satisfied, the socialists win elections from New York to Colorado (unthinkable not long ago) and divisive Fourth of July programs emerge in once-moderate places like San Diego County.

Increasingly, elected officials want to shove a thumb in the eye of the nation, its founding, its traditions and its glory.

Enough.

Note to the radicals who rush to tear America down on perhaps its most cherished holiday:

Stop being petulant about losing national elections.

Love your country even if you don’t love its current leader.

Teach, respect and appreciate the values of 1776: liberty, individual rights, equality, limited government and the rule of law.

Ditch the woke bilge and restore the picnics, US flags and fireworks.

Restore e pluribus unum. 

Skip the lecture series and let the people have fun.

And a bonus memo to San Diego County voters: Remember this farce next election.

Just maybe, in another grand American tradition, you’ll do this:

Throw the bums out.

A dramatic video has surfaced capturing the terrifying moment an explosion burst forth inside an electrical room at a Washington state apartment complex, engulfing firefighters in flames and debris as they were responding to smoke reports on Sunday.

The intense footage from Tacoma depicts a team of firefighters as they pried open the door to the electrical room, unleashing a cloud of thick smoke. Just moments later, a forceful explosion blasted through the entrance, shattering windows and propelling vertical blinds and debris into the air, forcing the firefighters to hastily retreat from the building.

The person filming the event briefly diverted the camera after the explosion. Once the video readjusts, the firefighters are visible regrouping, ensuring everyone’s safety, and moving away from the severely damaged structure.

According to a subsequent statement from the Tacoma Fire Department (TFD), thankfully, all firefighters and residents emerged unscathed from the incident.

Firefighters responded around 5:37 p.m. to an apartment complex at 6400 S. 12th St., after receiving reports of an explosion and smoke coming from an electrical conduit, according to the department. Fire alarms sounded after a resident pulled the alarm, prompting crews to evacuate buildings as a precaution.

“Eight buildings evacuated indefinitely. No active fire,” the TFD said in an update on X.

Officials said an electrical transformer malfunction pushed smoke into multiple buildings while Tacoma Public Utilities and fire investigators worked to determine the cause. Apartment residents were temporarily sheltered at Hunt Middle School.

In a later update, the department said the explosion occurred inside the electrical room after firefighters shut off power to the building.

“Explosion occurred in the electrical room where firefighters shut power off to the building,” the Tacoma Fire Department wrote on X. Tacoma Public Utilities continued investigating the cause of the blast.

The utility later cleared residents to return to every building except the 600 building while crews worked to restore power. The American Red Cross assisted residents displaced from that building.

The Tacoma Fire Department said the explosion remained under investigation.