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Former All-Star infielder Sandy Alomar Sr. has passed away, per an announcement from the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He was 81 years old and would have turned 82 this coming weekend. The father of big leaguers Roberto Alomar and Sandy Alomar Jr., Sandy Sr. enjoyed a 15-year playing career of his own. From 1964-78, he suited up for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox, Expos, Rangers and Mets. The elder Alomar made the 1970 All-Star team as a member of the Angels during a season in which he batted .251/.302/.293 and played in all 162 games while providing quality defense and 35 stolen bases. In all, Alomar hit .245/.290/.288 in 5160 major league plate appearances across his decade and a half as a big league player. He played primarily second base but also logged more than 1200 innings at shortstop and made a handful of appearances at the hot corner. Alomar was known for his glove and speed more than his bat; he totaled just 13 career home runs, 126 doubles and 19 triples but piled up 227 career stolen bases. He’s one of just 300 players to ever steal at least 225 bags in his career. Beyond his career as a player, Alomar logged parts of 16 season as a coach in the major leagues, spending time with the Padres (third base coach), Cubs (first base coach), Rockies (third base coach) and Mets (bench coach, first base coach). He also managed in the minor league ranks for both the Cubs and the Mets and spent several seasons coaching and managing teams at home in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Our condolences go out to each of the organizations Alomar impacted, as well as the Alomar family and friends, and the countless fans he accrued over a baseball career that spanned more than 50 years. View the full article

MLBTR's Steve Adams is hosting a live chat today at 3pm CT, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription BENEFITS Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco. Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony. Remove ads and support our writers. Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker View the full article

On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer. The 2025 regular season is now over and the playoffs are in full swing. Do you have a question about the season which just ended? The postseason? The upcoming offseason? If you have a question on those topics or anything else baseball-related, we’d love to hear from you! You can email your questions to mlbtrpod@gmail.com. Also, if you want to hear your voice on the podcast, send us your question in audio form and we might play it. iPhone users can find instructions on how to do so here. In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. View the full article

The Phillies’ latest postseason exit has led to some speculation about manager Rob Thomson’s job security, but Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post report that Thomson is “safe for 2026” and is expected to return to lead the Philadelphia dugout next year. The team is planning a formal announcement later in the week. As pointed out by Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Thomson is just the fourth manager in major league history to lead any team to the postseason in each of his four years on the job. He’s also only the third Phillies manager to guide the club to consecutive NL East championships. Thomson, 62, was elevated to the manager’s post midway through the 2022 season when Joe Girardi was fired. The team’s bench coach at the time, Thomson has now famously indicated that he was actually planning to retire at the end of that 2022 season before being reinvigorated by the promotion to manager. In three-plus seasons at the helm, Thomson guided the Phillies to a 346-251 regular season record and steered the ’22 Phillies all the way to an NL Pennant and to Game 6 of the World Series before falling to the ’22 World Champion Astros. Thomson’s Phillies reached Game 7 of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks in 2023 but have now lost in the Division Series in consecutive seasons, falling to the ’24 Mets and the ’25 Dodgers. Prior to his time as the Phillies’ manager, Thomson spent five years as the bench coach under Girardi. He was also the Yankees’ bench coach under Girardi, holding that position from 2008-17. He’d served as a major league coach with the Yankees prior, dating back to 2003, and has also held roles in their front office (specifically in player development) in addition to various coaching positions in the Yankees’ minor league ranks. Though some fans might’ve hoped for a change in voice after four consecutive earlier-than-hoped playoff exits, it doesn’t seem that any such sentiment exists within the clubhouse. Phillies players emphatically voiced last week — via both Lauber and The Athletic’s Matt Gelb — that Thomson has their support. “I love Topper, man,” Harper said after the team’s heartbreaking end to the season. “He’s done a great job for us. I don’t know what the future holds. I have no idea. I think that’s a [question for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski]. But obviously, we love Topper in here.” Teammate Trea Turner agreed wholeheartedly. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of good managers in my career — I’ve probably played for four or five now, and they’ve all been really good — and he’s right up there with them,” said Turner. “He’s got all the qualities. He keeps it even-keeled all year long. He’s great, man. I don’t think you can ask for more out of a manager.” Thomson is currently signed through the 2026 season. The Phillies inked him to a one-year extension last offseason — a move that prevented him from playing out the current campaign as a lame-duck manager. Perhaps they’ll go a similar route this time around, but for right now, Thomson’s contract is slated to conclude at the end of the ’26 season and is not believed to contain any kind of option for the 2027 season. View the full article

In a surprising move, Padres manager Mike Shildt has announced he is stepping down from that role, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune. The decision was Shildt’s, Acee adds. He has managed the club for two years and had two years remaining on his contract. “The grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally,” Shildt wrote in a letter to the Union-Tribune. “While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my own terms.” He went on to thank the Padres organization, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, and the players for his time with the team and wished them future success. In a statement released by the team, Preller said of Shildt, “His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization, and we wish him the best in his next chapter.” Shildt, 57, has led the Padres to a 183-141 (.565) record since the start of 2024. The club made the postseason in both of those years, reaching the National League Division Series in 2024 and the Wild Card Series this year. In that time, the team has gotten strong performances out of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jake Cronenworth among others, while also seeing the emergence of Jackson Merrill. The club is tied for seventh-best in the league with a 107 wRC+ in that time. Pitching-wise, the team ranks fifth in the majors with a 3.75 ERA and seventh with a 15.7% K-BB rate since the start of 2024. That success includes strong performances from starters Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Nick Pivetta, along with relievers Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez. If not for the perennially excellent Dodgers, the Padres may have had a shot at first place in the NL West in those two years. Even then, it is hard to consider Shildt’s tenure with San Diego as anything other than a success. Prior to managing the Padres, Shildt held various roles in the Cardinals organization, acting as quality control coach and third base coach in 2017 and bench coach in 2018. He was named the interim manager upon the firing of Mike Matheny in July 2018 and became the permanent manager in August of that year. He held that post through the 2021 season before departing the organization due to what were described at the time as “philosophical differences.” Shildt was hired by San Diego in a player development role in January 2022 and became the manager in November 2023 following Bob Melvin’s departure for the Giants. In all, he has posted a 435-340 (.561) record in parts of six seasons as a big-league manager and has twice finished in the top two for the NL Manager of the Year Award, winning it in 2019 with the Cardinals and finishing as the runner-up last year with the Padres. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Shildt is not necessarily retiring from baseball altogether. Rather, he is simply not looking to continue managing in the immediate future. When asked about the possibility, Shildt said, “Not at the moment. I need a break and take care of myself.” That’s not a definitive declaration that he’ll return to the dugout at some point, but Shildt left the door open for potential future opportunities. A return under those conditions would hardly be unprecedented; we’ve recently seen both Bruce Bochy and Terry Francona return to big league dugouts at older ages than Shildt. With the Padres now looking for a new skipper, a staggering 10 out of 30 teams will enter 2026 with a different manager than the one with which they opened the 2025 season. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller thanked Shildt for his “significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years” in a press release this morning and added that the search for a new manager will begin immediately. View the full article

Reacting to Battles LIVE (SBX Kickback Finals)🔴View the full article

(Photo Credit: Dread) ComingSoon is excited to host a The Jester 2 giveaway for the horror movie sequel. Winners will receive The Jester 2 poster signed by director Colin Krawchuk and a digital code for the film. The slasher movie from Epic Pictures’ Dread will be available on video-on-demand starting October 17. “On Halloween night, teen magician Max finds herself locked in a brutal showdown with the Jester, a nightmarish and supernatural trickster with real dark magic and a killer act. As illusions turn lethal and every escape is a trap, Max must pull off the ultimate trick: staying alive. On this deadly night, the only escape… is to beat the devil at its own game,” reads the official synopsis. Check out The Jester 2 trailer below: The Jester 2 is written and directed by Colin Krawchuk (The Jester). Starring Michael Sheffield (The Jester), Kaitlyn Trentham (Murder Made Me Famous, Within The Woods), Jessica Ambuehl (Becoming, The Dream Motel), and Dingani Beza (23 Minutes to Sunrise, Marshall’s Miracle). Produced by Patrick Ewald, Cole Payne, and Jake Heineke. How to enter our The Jester 2 giveaway: To enter our The Jester 2 giveaway, you can either retweet the giveaway’s Twitter post or comment on our corresponding Facebook post. Winners will receive a signed poster along with a digital code for the film, and must be in the U.S. to be eligible. The giveaway lasts until October 19. Good luck to all who enter! The post The Jester 2 Giveaway: Signed Poster & Digital Code for Horror Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures Actor and producer Channing Tatum stars in Roofman, a film inspired by the story of Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life convicted spree robber. He portrays Manchester and recently spoke about the rare opportunity he got to sit down with the former U.S. Army Reserve soldier as part of his preparation for the role. Channing Tatum on what real Jeffrey Manchester said to him The Magic Mike star, playing Jeffrey Manchester in Roofman, got to speak with the real-life inspiration behind his character. Jeffrey Manchester is currently in prison for his crimes. Along with director Derek Cianfrance, Channing Tatum visited him while preparing to portray him on screen. Recently, the 45-year-old actor told Entertainment Weekly about the conversations he had with Manchester. Tatum mentioned, “Man, we talked about so much,” recalling those discussions. “I think in the beginning, I obviously had lists and lists of questions about the whys and the hows, and did this really happen? Did that really happen?” He then elaborated on how Manchester told him one of the most heartbreaking things. It helped him learn who the latter is as a human. The Blink Twice actor shared, “He’s made some bad decisions, and he’s very, very aware of that and having to pay the price for that. But I asked him, when he gets out, what are you going to do? And it really just punched me in the gut, man. He’s like, ‘I don’t know if they’ll ever let me, because I’m a felon, but I would love to adopt, and I would love to have a second chance of being a father and not screwing it up this time.” “He really knows. He’s like, ‘The thing that I cheated [my kids] out of is just my actual presence in their life. And I just didn’t understand before this, I had to be taught a lesson, and you can’t take those decisions back.’ He’s dealing with those consequences in that reality, and it’s a hard thing to swallow,” Tatum further revealed. Empathizing with the real Roofman, Channing Tatum also expressed how he wished that Jeffrey Manchester got to see the movie. “But, I hope they give him a second chance to at least see the movie and then hopefully it gives a little perspective on him, and why he did what he did, and maybe it shaves some time off his sentence, but who knows?” he stated. The post Roofman’s Channing Tatum Recalls ‘Heartbreaking’ Conversation With Real Jeffrey Manchester appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

The Tigers and manager AJ Hinch quietly agreed to a long-term contract extension during the 2025 season, president of baseball operations Scott Harris announced today at his end-of-season press conference (video link). Harris and Hinch did not specify the length of the contract, but Hinch ostensibly is now signed through at least 2027. Harris effused praise for Hinch, calling him one of the best managers in the sport and saying he hopes to continue working with him “as long as I can possibly work with him.” Hinch, 51, just wrapped up his fifth season as the manager in Detroit. This is already the second time the organization has “proactively” extended him — as Harris phrased it — before the conclusion of his existing contract. The Tigers have reached the postseason and won a Wild Card series before falling in the ALDS in each of the past two seasons. Hinch’s club has gone 394-416 since he was hired following the 2020 season, though the Tigers spent the first three years of his managerial tenure wrapping up a large-scale rebuilding effort, so it’s hard to ding him for a sub-.500 record. Hinch has spent parts of 12 seasons as a major league manager in Detroit, Houston and Arizona. With regard to the team’s coaching staff, the Harris/Hinch duo did not specify whether changes are on the horizon. Hinch voiced pride in his staff but noted that there will be an assessment period at all levels within the organization in the days ahead as leadership looks ahead to the 2026 season. Of course, even if Harris and Hinch fully intend to bring back the same staff, there’s no guarantee that’ll happen. An incredible eight teams are on the hunt for a new manager right now, and it’s common for clubs seeking new skippers to look to the coaching staffs of contending clubs. Even if no Tigers coach is plucked away for a new managerial gig elsewhere, new managers with other teams will also look to contenders’ coaching staffs to fill out their own. If another team is interested in a Tigers assistant pitching coach or assistant hitting coach to take a lead role in their organization, for instance, that could lead to some turnover. While some changes further down the ladder can’t be ruled out, however, the leaders in the baseball operations department and in the dugout are squarely returning, providing continuity as the Tigers look to capitalize on ace Tarik Skubal’s final season of club control prior to his entrance into the free-agent market next offseason. There was never any real thought that Hinch’s job would be in jeopardy, even after his team’s collapse in the season’s final few months. The Tigers floundered down the stretch and ultimately ceded the division crown to the Guardians despite holding a 9.5 game lead in the AL Central as deep into the season as Sept. 10. They rallied to topple Cleveland in the Wild Card round, however, before falling in a 15-inning ALDS Game 5 nailbiter against the AL West champion Mariners. Fans of any of the incredible eight (!!) teams seeking a new skipper might have hoped that Hinch would potentially be available, but all indications since his hiring in Detroit are that he’s firmly entrenched himself as a pillar of the organization. Harris’ comments today reflect that, and Hinch himself spoke of how much he’s embraced the Tigers organization, the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Said Hinch: “I’m so happy being in Detroit. I’m so proud to be the manager here. I love working for [Harris]. And this is the second time that I was approached and was asked for more — and it was an immediate ’yes’ for me. When you have an environment that both pushes you and satisfied you, you want to be in it. I was honored. I was thrilled. It was one conversation with my wife, and I went back to Scott with an immediate ’yes,’ and off we went. …I can’t tell you how proud I am to be the manager of the Tigers. It’s a rewarding place to be. I bought a home here. We live here the majority of the year and we continue to be thrilled to become more and more Michiganders as a family.” View the full article

Photo Credit: Marvel Entertainment (via YouTube) Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II recently shared details about the powers of his character Simon Williams, AKA Wonder Man, in Marvel’s upcoming series. A trailer of Wonder Man was recently shown at the New York Comic-Con, featuring Abdul-Mateen, accompanied by Ben Kingsley. The release date of the show was recently postponed by a month from December 2025 to January 2026. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on what Wonder Man’s super power is in MCU The Aquaman star had a conversation at the NYCC recently. There, he talked about the powers of his character, Simon Williams, in Wonder Man. While Yahya Abdul-Mateen II didn’t reveal much, he hinted that Williams’ acting skills are his main power. He told Rotten Tomatoes, “I think Simon is, well, Simon is trying to figure out what his powers, you know. Simon has a superpower. Simon would say that his superpower is his craft.” Abdul Mateen added that fans will “get to see how well he manages” being a superhero and an actor in the upcoming series. Furthermore, Marvel Head of TV and Streaming, Brad Winderbaum, sat with Entertainment Weekly and spoke about Wonder Man. Apart from it being a meta show, he also stated, “It’s one of my favorite things. It’s very different than anything the studio’s produced. In terms of how meta it is, without getting into details, it is a show that takes place within the MCU, but it’s a story about Hollywood. And it’s a story about not just Hollywood, I would say it’s a story about acting and the journey of an actor in Hollywood.” Winderbaum also shared his views on Wonder Man being compared to the hit Apple TV+ series The Studio. He stated, “It is very different than The Studio, actually. It’s different tonally. It’s very sincere, and it’s very focused on acting as a craft. The Studio is really more about the big Hollywood system and the machine and the craziness that ensues. This is really a very intimate portrait of one actor trying to live his dreams while the world and the need to make money intervenes.” Originally reported by Ishita Verma on SuperHeroHype. The post Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Reveals Wonder Man’s Super Power in MCU Series appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Infielder Chris Owings announced his retirement on his Instagram page last week. He last played in affiliated ball in the Dodgers organization in 2024. Now, it appears the 11-year big-league veteran will hang up his spikes at the age of 34. “This game has given me more than I could’ve ever imagined,” said Owings, who went on to thank his family, coaches, and the various organizations of which he had been a part during his career. Owings was drafted in the first round by the Diamondbacks in 2009, making his major-league debut four years later. He would spend six seasons with Arizona, playing a total of 575 games out in the desert and batting .250/.291/.378 with a 73 wRC+. During that time, he maxed out at 552 plate appearances in 147 games in 2015. The following year, he led the majors in triples (11) while batting .277/.315/.416 in 119 games and splitting time between shortstop and center field. After leaving the Diamondbacks following the 2018 season, he went on to spend brief major-league stints with the Royals, Red Sox, Rockies, Orioles, and Pirates, often acting as a utility player. His last big-league appearances came in 2023 with Pittsburgh. He signed a minor league pact with the Dodgers in February 2024 and played in 80 games at the Triple-A level before being released in July of that year. In all, Owings played in 723 games and earned just over $11MM in his career. He batted .239/.286/.364 with 550 hits, 37 home runs, 220 RBI, and 79 stolen bases. He was also a serviceable defender, grading out as below-average in 2,105 1/3 innings at shortstop (-11 career DRS) but above average in 1,647 2/3 innings at the keystone (9 DRS). We at MLBTR congratulate Owings on a solid career and wish him the best in retirement. Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images View the full article

(Photo Credit: Netflix) Netflix has finally announced the release date for Bridgerton Season 4, the next chapter of Shonda Rhimes’ popular romance drama series. The upcoming season will now center around the love story between Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton and Yerin Ha’s Sophie Baek. In addition, the streamer has also shared a new teaser trailer, featuring a glimpse of Benedict and Sophie’s long-awaited first meeting. “The new installment turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down. That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict’s attention at Violet Bridgerton’s masquerade ball. While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she’s actually Sophie, a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams,” reads the logline. Check out the Bridgerton Season 4 teaser trailer below (watch more trailers): When are the release dates for Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 & Part 2? Bridgerton Season 4 will be divided into two parts, with Part 1 now scheduled to premiere on January 29, 2026. As for Part 2, it will be dropping on February 26, 2026. Season 4 will be based on the novel An Offer from a Gentleman, the third book in Julia Quinn’s bestselling Bridgerton series. Besides Ha, the next installment will also introduce new cast members Katie Leung (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) as Lady Araminta Gun, Michelle Mao (A Big Bold Beautiful Journey) as Rosamund Li, and Isabella Wei (The Crow) as Posy Li. The next installment will also feature returning cast members Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown, Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley, Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, Hannah Dodd as Francesca Stirling, Victor Alli as Lord John Stirling, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton, Daniel Francis as Lord Marcus Anderson, Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton, Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, Polly Walker as Portia Featherington and more. Bridgerton is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, showrunner Jess Brownell, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen. Ahead of Season 4’s premiere, it has already been confirmed that the show has been renewed for two more seasons. Seasons 5 and 6 would most likely tell the love stories of Eloise Bridgerton and Francesca Bridgerton, since they are, respectively, the fifth and sixth oldest children of the Bridgerton siblings. The post Bridgerton Season 4 Teaser Trailer Sets Release Dates for Part 1 & Part 2 appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures Glen Powell has sparked buzz among fans after revealing his interest in joining the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 live-action film. The 36-year-old actor admitted he has become a fan of the game and would be interested in being part of the movie adaptation. This prompted a lighthearted reaction from Charlie Cox. Glen Powell is interested in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 movie role The Top Gun: Maverick star has sparked fan excitement after revealing that he is interested in joining a potential movie adaptation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In a recent interview with IGN, Glen Powell was asked if he plays video games. He responded enthusiastically, saying, “Yeah. Expedition 33.” Powell added, “You know, it’s one that I’ve become a fan of. And uhm, if there’s an Expedition 33 movie, I’d be very interested.” When pressed about which character he would want to play, The Running Man actor playfully dodged the question. He added with a laugh, “I am not gonna say much more than that.” Powell’s comments have already fueled speculation among fans. Charlie Cox doesn’t think he’ll beat Powell for Clair Obscur movie role The Daredevil: Born Again star has also shared a lighthearted response to Glen Powell’s expressed interest in the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 movie. During the New York Comic Con red carpet, Charlie Cox laughed off the news, joking, “Oh, there goes my part then! Great! He’s gonna play Gustav and not me.” His playful remark quickly drew attention from fans. The English actor then followed up by asking, “Is he a gamer? Has he played it?” When the reporter confirmed that Powell had played the game, Cox responded with, “Oh, cool,” keeping the exchange lighthearted. Earlier this year, news broke that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, is being adapted into a live-action film. The project is in development with Story Kitchen and will be published by Kepler Interactive. Interestingly, Charlie Cox has voiced the character of Gustave in the video game. Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on SuperHeroHype. The post Charlie Cox & Glen Powell React to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Movie Possibility appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is an annual event put together by Georgia educators with a goal of getting young people excited about reading. School and public libraries host events throughout Georgia at the local, regional, and state level that encourage young readers to answer questions about the books they’ve read. It is entirely optional, with young people electing whether or not to participate. Titles included in the Reading Bowl come from the Georgia Peach Book Award nominees. These titles are selected annually through a process that has school and public librarians read widely across recently-published titles to select 20 finalists. Students then have the opportunity to read and rate those books, allowing them the power to select the Georgia Peach Book Award Winner and the Georgia Peach Book Award Honorable Mentions. The Helen Ruffian Reading Bowl helps facilitate the process by encouraging teens to read from this list of finalists. But there’s something different about this year’s Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Instead of encouraging a wide range of diverse reading, the Bowl has removed eight of the 20 titles for readers at the high school level. The decision came after “receiving numerous reconsideration requests about some of the books nominated for the 2025-2026 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers.” The steering committee elected to remove eight books from the list, not only narrowing the breadth of titles being discussed by teens across the state, but also narrowing the number of books they will be reading in anticipation of voting for the Georgia Peach Book Awards. Here’s the original list of Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl titles for High Schoolers, available via the Wayback Machine: The current list of books, available via the Reading Bowl’s website, looks quite different: The eight books banned from the Reading Bowl competition are: Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo Crashing into You by Rocky Callen Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo Songlight by Moira Buffini Thirsty by Jas Hammonds This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed Wander in the Dark by Jumata Emill When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson All of these books are published for the young adult audience, meaning that the Bowl’s steering committee elected to remove books that are appropriate for the teens involved in this competition. Seven of the eight banned books are written by female-identifying writers, while at least five are written by writers from demographically marginalized backgrounds. Among the titles banned from the competition? Samira Ahmed’s book about the reality of book banning, written in response to the widespread censorship happening across America since early 2021. Other titles removed from the competition include themes commonly targeted by book banners both nationwide and in Georgia, including books about mental health (“social emotional learning”), the realities of life as a marginalized person (“diversity, equity, and inclusion”), and sexual assault (categorized under “comprehensive sexuality education” or “gender ideology,” in book banner parlance). Not Like Other Girls was the winner of the 2025 William C. Morris YA Debut Award, an honor bestowed by librarians through the American Library Association annually. The removal of these books based on “numerous reconsideration complaints” raises several questions. Who submitted the complaints and what authority do they have to have their opinion on the books available to teens across the state for an optional Reading Bowl? Why would the steering committee capitulate to those requests? Why were those books a problem at all? Questions used in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl are created by a committee of educators and retired educators who are appointed by the program’s steering committee. If there was concern about the content of the questions, that was (and is!) entirely within the scope of the committee’s oversight. Not to mention that many of the remaining books themselves contain topics that have become favorites among book banners. What rubric was used by the committee to remove some and not others? Teens engaged in the Reading Bowl–electing to spend their free time reading books and answering questions about them–now not only see that their reading choices are being undermined through the program, but will also now wonder how long until those attacks make their way more broadly onto the Georgia Peach Book Awards, which utilize their input. This isn’t the first brush with book censorship that the Reading Bowl has had. In 2023, Cobb County’s Reading Bowl was canceled, “out of an abundance of caution, and in light of recent events.” That caution came due to the district’s book banning and fear that the titles included in the program–again, titles selected by state library workers–would come under fire. Book censorship has become more common in Georgia since 2021. At least three public school districts had documented banned books in the 2024-2025 school year, including Cobb County, Colombia County, and Marietta County. This resulted in 43 books being banned. As of writing, there has been no widespread coverage of the removal of these eight books from the optional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl program. Readers are encouraged to contact the program’s steering committee to find out why the titles were removed and to request they be returned. Students throughout the state have begun to push back on the decision as well. Wheeler High School students launched a petition, demanding more information about the decisions that went on behind the scenes to get these books pulled from the Reading Bowl. You can share the below image to spread the word and sign the petition here. View the full article

http://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/USATSI_27247331.jpgJovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images The matchup for the National League Championship Series is set, and it will feature the team with the best record in baseball and the team everyone thought would have the best record in baseball. The battle between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers will be a clash of styles. It’s big market versus small market. Superstars versus Average Joes. But make no mistake, even though Los Angeles has the name recognition (and all the money and resources in the world), Milwaukee’s scrappy roster is one of the most talented in baseball; the Brew Crew’s 6-0 record against the Dodgers during the regular season is evidence of that. The Brewers’ win over the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS was their first postseason series victory since 2018, when they reached the NLCS only to lose to the Dodgers in seven games. This is their fourth appearance in the Championship Series, and they’re playing for a chance to advance to the World Series for just the second time in franchise history. As for the Dodgers, they’re the defending champions; this will be their eighth NLCS appearance in the last 13 years, making this well-trod ground for them. NLCS Preview: Dodgers vs. Brewers Overview Dodgers Brewers Edge Batting (wRC+) 113 (1st in NL) 107 (6th in NL) Dodgers Fielding (FRV) -1 (9th) 30 (2nd) Brewers Starting Pitching (FIP-) 90 (2nd) 98 (7th) Dodgers Bullpen (FIP-) 95 (7th) 90 (2nd) Brewers The Brewers and Dodgers took very different paths to their success this season, and both have some key questions to answer in the NLCS. Here are the storylines to watch for. Will the Brewers have enough pitching? Want another example of these two ballclubs’ contrasting styles? Look no further than their respective pitching staffs. Due to a number of spring injuries, the Brewers started the season with a patchwork starting rotation, but that group quickly stabilized thanks to the emergence of Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick, the return of Brandon Woodruff, and the debut of Jacob Misiorowski. Injuries struck again towards the end of the regular season; Woodruff was sidelined with a lat strain in September and veteran Jose Quintana returned from a calf strain just in time for the NLDS. With Quintana limited and Woodruff left off the roster, Milwaukee entered the postseason with a lot fewer options to fill out their rotation. Freddy Peralta was effectively the only pitcher who made a traditional start during the NLDS; he took two turns against the Cubs, allowing five runs in 9 2/3 innings while striking out 15. Priester was lined up to make a traditional start in Game 3, but he allowed four runs in the first inning and was pulled after recording just two outs. Like the Tigers last year, the Brewers have embraced a strategy of pitching chaos due to a lack of starting options. They used 10 different relievers during the last round, with Misiorowski and Quintana providing bulk innings in the games Peralta didn’t start. Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill were utilized as openers in front of Misiorowski, and Brewers manager Pat Murphy dug deep into his bullpen to line up the right matchups in critical situations. Combined, the Brewers relief corps threw 30 innings against the Cubs, the most of any team in that round, and put up a 1.20 ERA, the lowest of the eight teams in the Division Series: Brewers Postseason Relief Pitching Player G IP K% BB% ERA FIP xERA Chad Patrick 4 4.2 42.9% 0.0% 0.00 0.56 1.52 Aaron Ashby 3 3 20.0% 13.3% 0.00 4.14 3.34 Jared Koenig 3 2.2 9.1% 0.0% 3.38 7.26 5.39 Nick Mears 3 1.2 42.9% 14.3% 0.00 1.34 2.19 Jacob Misiorowski 2 7 25.9% 7.4% 1.29 3.85 1.29 Abner Uribe 2 3 30.0% 10.0% 0.00 2.14 0.00 Trevor Megill 2 1 20.0% 20.0% 0.00 4.14 4.07 Jose Quintana 1 3 16.7% 8.3% 0.00 2.80 2.69 Grant Anderson 1 2 33.3% 0.0% 0.00 1.14 0.70 Robert Gasser 1 2 0.0% 8.3% 9.00 17.64 50.19 In the best-of-seven NLCS, that strategy will be stretched to its limit. The off day between Games 1 and 2 in the NLDS allowed the Brewers to be aggressive with their bullpen usage, but they won’t have that same luxury against the Dodgers. The most immediate question is who will start Game 1. Peralta last pitched on Thursday, which means he’d be lined up to start Game 2 on normal rest. Both Priester and Quintana would be on four days rest after appearing in Game 3 last Wednesday, which means one of those two will likely take the mound to start the series against the Dodgers. The other option would be to run with a full bullpen game in Game 1 and hope that Peralta can provide length in Game 2 before the travel day affords some rest ahead of the three-game set in Los Angeles. Misiorowski should be rested enough to make a bulk relief appearance in Game 3, which would also set him up to be used in a potential Game 7 if it comes to that. For the Dodgers, the rotation plan is a lot more straightforward. They’ve got four phenomenal starters in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, and they leaned on them heavily during the NLDS. Those four guys threw a combined 22 innings against the Phillies while posting a 2.45 ERA and a 2.54 FIP. Los Angeles will go with Snell to start Game 1 and Yamamoto in Game 2, which would give him his regular five days of rest before a potential start in Game 6. Ohtani throws a little wrinkle in things for Games 3 and 4, as well as for a potential Game 7. As of Sunday night, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers had committed to pitching Ohtani “at some point” in the NLCS, though they had not yet announced whether he’d get the ball in Game 3 or Game 4 back in Los Angeles. During the first two rounds, the Dodgers scheduled Ohtani’s starts for games before an off day, so he would have a day to recover before DHing. Manager Dave Roberts said the team isn’t going to be doing that for the NLCS, and that Ohtani would be in the lineup as the DH the game after he pitches, no matter what. All but two of Ohtani’s 15 starts this season, including Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies, have come on six or more days of rest, and none since the end of June, when he was only throwing one or two innings while coming back from elbow reconstruction surgery. The starter for Game 7 becomes a little murkier if Ohtani pitches in Game 3; typically, that would line him up to start the final game, but he’d be pitching on just four days of rest, something he hasn’t done this year. Game 7 would be an all-hands-on-deck situation anyway, so it’s possible Ohtani and Glasnow could combine to cover most of the innings in that winner-take-all game. If that’s the plan, then it would make more sense to have Ohtani start Game 3 because it would give him an extra day to recover than if he were to start Game 4 and still be needed for Game 7. Can the Dodgers’ bullpen contain the Brewers’ offense? Beyond the starting unit’s quality, the big reason the Dodgers relied so heavily on their rotation during the first two rounds of the playoffs is because their bullpen has really struggled over the last month. In September, Dodgers relievers posted a 4.90 ERA, and that has jumped to a 5.75 ERA in October. Roberts has trusted just four relievers in high-leverage situations during the previous two rounds of the playoffs: Dodgers Postseason Relief Pitching Player G IP K% BB% ERA FIP xERA Alex Vesia 5 3 21.4% 21.4% 6.00 4.14 7.18 Roki Sasaki 4 5.1 29.4% 0.0% 0.00 1.26 1.74 Blake Treinen 4 2.1 18.2% 0.0% 7.71 1.42 3.38 Emmet Sheehan 3 3.1 11.1% 11.1% 10.80 3.74 6.90 Of those four pitchers, just one has avoided allowing a run so far in October: Roki Sasaki. After a rough start to his MLB career, including a 4.72 ERA as a starter followed by a shoulder injury that sidelined him for four months, Sasaki has been a revelation in relief. His fastball has looked sharp, averaging nearly 100 mph, and he’s simplified his approach by featuring his unhittable splitter nearly half the time while ditching his slider completely. Tanner Scott was removed from the NLDS roster due to injury, so Los Angeles won’t have him as a late-inning option in this series either. Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, and Emmet Sheehan will once again be called on to form a bridge from the Dodgers’ starters to Sasaki, which is where things could get fraught. The Brewers’ offense excels at putting pressure on the opposing defense. They had the fifth-lowest strikeout rate in baseball this year, and they were one of the most aggressive teams on the basepaths during the regular season. They put the ball in play, force their opponents to play flawless defense, and are quick to take advantage of any mistakes in the field. During the regular season, they put up a 107 wRC+, their best mark of this window of contention that opened back in 2018. Their .145 ISO ranked just 25th overall, but it jumped up to .159 during the second half of the season, and it’s up to .175 in the postseason. They also have a knack for clutch hitting: 14 of the 22 runs they scored against the Cubs came with two outs, and they had 10 two-out, two-strike hits, including four home runs, in the NLDS. The Dodgers aren’t an especially strong defensive team, breaking even with 0 FRV, 17th in baseball. Of particular interest this October is Will Smith. Normally able to put a damper on opposing teams’ run game, the hairline fracture in Smith’s right hand clearly affected his ability to throw in the NLDS; the Phillies stole four bases while he was behind the plate. The lingering effects of that injury were enough to keep him out of the starting lineup during the first two games against the Phillies, and if his hand is still bothering him, I’d expect the Brewers to try and put the game in motion as soon as they get runners on base. The other factor that the Brewers use to their advantage is a deep bench that’s filled with players who can turn a late-inning at-bat into a favorable matchup. But while there will be some chess moves to make with the bottom half of the lineup, they’re confident in the production from Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and William Contreras at the top; that quartet combined for 21 hits, four home runs, and 11 RBI during the NLDS. That said, the other eight players who had a plate appearance during that series collected 19 hits, three home runs, and 10 RBI. One thing to monitor is the state of Chourio’s right hamstring; during Game 1 of the NLDS, he re-aggravated an injury that kept him on the IL for all of August. It wasn’t a serious enough to keep him out of the lineup in any other game during the series, but his ability to run full speed was clearly compromised. Will Shohei Ohtani break out of his slump? For the Dodgers, the biggest concern for their offense is the sudden silence of Shohei Ohtani’s bat. The superstar had three hits and two home runs in the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds, but the Phillies’ cavalcade of left-handed pitchers held him to just a single hit in 20 plate appearances while striking him out nine times in the NLDS. Ohtani won’t have to worry about as many left-handed pitchers while facing the Brewers, though I’m sure he’ll see plenty of Ashby and Jared Koenig in high-leverage situations. Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, and Tommy Edman picked up the slack for the Dodgers against Philadelphia, combining for four hits apiece, two home runs, and six RBI; postseason hero Enrique Hernández chipped in with three hits and three RBI of his own. Including their series win over the Reds, the team has a 108 wRC+ in the postseason so far, with 31 runs in six games. Even with one of their best bats mired in a slump, the Dodgers’ lineup has so many other incredible hitters that they can still pound an opposing team without skipping a beat. They had the second best wRC+ in baseball during the regular season, with a lineup that features a trio of former MVPs and a strong supporting cast. Although Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy didn’t slump as hard as Ohtani against the Phillies, I’m sure they will be glad to see fewer left-handed pitchers in this series. And even though Smith might not be 100%, his return lengthened the lineup by pushing Ben Rortvedt to the bench. Ohtani is still a critical piece of the offense — Roberts went so far as to say that the team won’t win the World Series without better production from him — but there are so many other ways the Dodgers can beat you. The Projection ZiPS Projection – NLCS Team Win in Four Win in Five Win in Six Win in Seven Victory Brewers 5.1% 9.3% 14.4% 16.6% 45.3% Dodgers 7.6% 16.1% 16.6% 14.4% 54.7% On paper, it would seem like the Dodgers’ star power and extensive postseason experience would give them the upper hand over the Brewers. Still, the Brew Crew is a lot more than the sum of their parts, which will make this series a fascinating battle between two very different ballclubs. Source View the full article

As a whole, the NBA wants to have the best product possible for its fans. That includes all aspects of the game, even the referees. In the 2025-26 preseason, the league is testing new gear for its officials. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that some refs have been seen wearing earpieces during the preseason. This […] The post NBA referees are testing wearing earpieces to ensure enhanced communication appeared first on Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News. View the full article

(Photo Credit: Paramount) Paramount Pictures has shared a brand new trailer for The Running Man, the latest film adaptation of Stephen King‘s 1982 dystopian thriller novel. This won’t be the first time that the novel was adapted for the big screen, as Arnold Schwarzenegger previously led the 1987 version. The survival action-thriller is now scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 14. “In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television — a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward,” reads the official synopsis. “Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian, to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters but a nation addicted to watching him fall.” Check out The Running Man trailer below (watch more trailers): What is seen in the new The Running Man trailer? The video introduces Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell as Ben Richards, who’s forced to join a survival game show for the sake of his family. To win the coveted prize of $1 billion, he must stay alive for 30 days, while assassins will try to kill him. The trailer offers a preview of some of the movie’s action-packed, thrilling sequences, highlighting Ben’s efforts in fending off his hunters. It also teases how he’ll become a symbol for the working-class public, who will be rooting for his success against the powerful goons. The Running Man is directed by Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall. The movie also stars William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Katy O’Brian, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. It is produced by Wright, Simon Kinberg, and Nira Park, with George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, Audrey Chon, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary serving as executive producers. Originally reported by Maggie Dela Paz at SuperHeroHype. The post The Running Man Trailer Previews Glen Powell’s Action Movie Remake appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today: 1. ALCS Game 2: After a solo homer by George Springer in the first inning, Bryce Miller and the Mariners’ bullpen managed to shut down a Blue Jays offense that throttled the Yankees in the division series to take Game 1 of the ALCS 3-1. Seattle will look to build on that lead later today with right-hander Logan Gilbert (3.44 ERA) on the mound, while the Blue Jays will turn to rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage (3.21 ERA) as they look to tie up the series before it heads to Seattle for Game 3. Yesavage is coming off a dominant performance against New York where he struck out 11 in 5 1/3 hitless innings, but Gilbert had a strong showing in the ALDS himself. He struck out seven Tigers across six innings of one-run ball in his lone start in the series before pitching two scoreless innings of relief in Seattle’s marathon Game 5 win over Detroit. The teams are set to face off at 5:03pm local time this evening in Toronto. 2. NLCS Game 1: Just over three hours later, at 7:08pm local time in Milwaukee, the Brewers and Dodgers will kick off Game 1 of the NLCS. Left-hander Blake Snell (2.35 ERA) is slated to take the mound for L.A. He’s already come up with wins for the Dodgers against both the Reds and Phillies this October, combining for 13 innings of two-run ball with 18 strikeouts. Milwaukee, meanwhile, has not announced a starter but plans to go with an opener for the start of the game, with either Quinn Priester (3.32 ERA) or Jose Quintana (3.96 ERA) to follow as a bulk arm. Quintana was the far more effective of the two in the NLDS, as he threw three scoreless frames against Chicago while Priester surrendered four runs and recorded just two outs in his lone appearance. 3. Lukes day-to-day: Turning back to the ALCS, Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited yesterday’s game after fouling a ball off of his knee. He was eventually diagnosed as a right knee contusion after x-rays came back negative. It’s a good sign for his availability at some point later in the series, but manager John Schneider told reporters yesterday that it wouldn’t be known if Lukes was available for today’s game. Lukes will be evaluated by the Jays’ medical staff when he arrives at the park today. If he’s unavailable, Davis Schneider or Myles Straw would likely step into the starting lineup in his place. View the full article

Image credit: HBO Max The ending of Peacemaker Season 2 not only introduced the Salvation planet to the DCU but also hinted at bigger things to come in James Gunn’s revamped universe. As such, many fans have been wondering how this newly discovered dimension will fit into upcoming DCU projects, especially Man of Tomorrow, as well as which characters will help shape the franchise’s main storyline. While Gunn has chosen to keep most plot details under wraps, he has revealed four characters that will be pivotal to his upcoming slate of films. James Gunn confirms three more DC characters for Salvation after Peacemaker In a recent discussion with Comic Book Resources, the DC Studios co-CEO confirmed that Superman, Lex Luthor, and Rick Flag Sr. will play significant roles in the DCU’s Salvation storyline. In a separate social media interaction, Gunn also highlighted Peacemaker’s involvement in the arc. Talking about his near-future plans for the DCU, Gunn stated, “There’s a bigger story being told that involves, say, Salvation. And so that story – it involves Rick Flag. It involves Lex and Superman. There are those movies that I’m going to be directing. That’s the plan right now, at least.” Meanwhile, he also confirmed the role of John Cena’s Peacemaker in the Salvation arc while answering a fan query on Threads. While replying to a question about Chris Smith’s DCU future, Gunn simply noted, “ofc. He’s instrumental.” In the concluding moments of Peacemaker Season 2, Cena’s titular anti-hero ends up getting stranded on planet Salvation at Rick Flag Sr.’s behest. Notably, in the pages of DC Comics, planet Salvation serves as a glorified prison for a horde of menacing supervillains. Explaining how Rick Flag Sr. leaving Peacemaker on Salvation helps set up upcoming DCU projects, including 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, on Threads, Gunn posted, “Where Chris is at the end, what is happening between the government and the metahumans, Rick and Lex’s new partnership, and all of their decision to do what they did is all a part of the future, MoT, and more.” As such, fans can expect to see more of Superman, Lex Luthor, Peacemaker, and Rick Flag Sr. in the next two years. The Supergirl movie starring Milly Alcock is the next theatrical entry in Gunn’s DCU and will come out on June 26, 2026. Meanwhile, Man of Tomorrow is currently on track to premiere on July 9, 2027. Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on SuperHeroHype. The post 4 Characters Crucial for DCU’s Salvation Story Confirmed appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Winners of the 2025 Harvey Awards, presented to the best of the best in comics creation, were announced on Friday, October 10, at New York Comic Con. The Harvey Awards were founded in 1998 and named after writer and artist Harvey Kurtzman. Nominees are judged by a host of comics publishing professionals, including publishers, retailers, librarians, and educators. There are seven Harvey Award categories. This year, six creators were also inducted into the Harvey Kurtzman Hall of Fame. Here are the winners and inductees. Book of the Year: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath Digital Book of the Year: Sarah’s Scribbles by Sarah Anderson Best Children’s Book: The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud Best Young Adult Book: Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn Best Manga: Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama; translated by Stephen Kohler Best International Book: Blacksad: They All Fall Down Part 2 by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido; translated by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander Best Adaptation from a Comic Book/Graphic Novel: Superman directed by James Gunn. Based on Superman, created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Schuster The six creators inducted in the Hall of Fame include: ElfQuest creators Wendy and Richard Pini Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell Writer and artist John Byrne Award-winning writer Peter David One of the first female cartoonists for The New Yorker, Barbara Shermund Catch up with the full list of this year’s Harvey Award Nominees and learn more about the award at The Harvey Awards website. Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books. View the full article

There is a lot going on in the world of BIPOC literature. For starters, Solange has started an online library for rare Black literature, a groundbreaking Asian American children’s book author has passed away, and a Black lesbian bookstore opened in Brooklyn. Must-Read BIPOC Lit Stories Ocean Vuong, the Influential Poet and Novelist TIME has named Ocean Vuong in their TIME100 Next List as one of “The World’s Most Influential Rising Stars.” What they had to say about Vuong: “In an age of declining reading, the popularity of Vuong’s poetry and novels—including his most recent, The Emperor of Gladness, which was an immediate best seller this spring—is a heartening reminder that there are still dedicated readers.” “…Not only that—these readers can be fans. Vuong is one of the few writers who have transcended the purely literary world into the realm of actual celebrity, buoyed by the power of his writing and the insight, sensitivity, and openness that it exhibits.” Solange Has Launched an Online Library for Black Lit The Saint Heron library is a digital space that contains archived works from Black writers and poets. It is meant to be “a literary center dedicated to students, artists, creatives and general book/literature enthusiasts interested in exploring and studying the breadth of artistic expression.” Check it out here. I swear, Solange is out here living the life I would if I had the money and influence (and talent) she did. Writer and poet Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi Writes on life in Gaza for the Last Two Years Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi speaks of the friends she’s lost and the many times she has had to move, carrying only one bag with a few clothes and losing more and more loved ones along the way. “I left with a single bag containing a few clothes. Every corner, every wall, every object carried a piece of my soul. I wished for a bag that could hold all the walls, all the memories, every vestige of my home.” Pioneering Author and Journalist Ken Mochizuki, Who Wrote Children’s Books About the Incarceration of Japanese Americans, Has Died The Asian American Journalists Association has published an article honoring the life and legacy of Ken Mochizuki, whose career spanned from acting on the show M*A*S*H to writing and publishing a groundbreaking children’s book—titled Baseball Saved Us—about a Japanese American boy who lived in an incarceration camp during WWII. He passed away of esophageal cancer on September 20th. He was 71. Speaking of Asian American Literature, a UC Berkeley Assistant Professor Has Published a Database That Has 1,900 works of Asian American Lit While UC Berkeley ethnic studies department assistant professor Long Le-Khac’s new database has Asian American literature that spans from 1971 to 2023, it also asks an important question: “What counts as ‘Asian American literature?’” Latine History Month Ends Tomorrow, But There Are Still So Many Latine Romances to Read! (A List of Recs by Romance Writer Mia Sosa) Among the Latine romances Mia Sosa recommends are, firstly, her latest, When Javi Dumped Mari, as well as Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria and Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer by A.H. Cunningham. Book Fairs, Festivals, and Exhibits The 2025 International Black Writers Festival This year marked the fourth iteration of the International Black Writers Festival, which was held at Howard University and ran from September 30th to October 2nd. Black Arts Movement Exhibit There’s a photography exhibit on the Black Arts Movement, which birthed books like John A. Williams’s The Man Who Cried I Am and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Here’s what it looks like. Activist Dolores Huerta Spoke at the 3rd Annual Latino Book Festival in Sacramento, CA The festival took place at Valley High School and had live music, books by Latino authors, and lowriders. In other words, a time was had. Philly’s 6th Annual Latin American Book Fair Philadelphia’s first Latin American Book Fair was in 2019. In 2025, the weekend-long event brought in hundreds of people who came to connect with authors, artists, and book lovers. Rafael Pabón Ortega, author of Surviving a la Bori, said, “These fairs are an act of resistance and cultural reaffirmation.” Censorship Books by Women Banned in Afghanistan Universities A good chunk of the more than 600 books that have been banned from Afghanistan’s male-only universities were written by women. Asian Authored Books Are Being Banned More and More As Book Bans Continue A lot of book censorship these past few years has focused on Black history and LGBTQ+ identities, but we are always getting reminded that the purpose of the bans is to uphold white supremacy, which holds no space for anyone who exists outside of it. Adaptations 20 Black Books That Are Being Optioned, and How You Can Help I can’t tell you how many book adaptations I’ve actually been excited about that I end up never hearing about again. Black Fiction University on Substack has a solution to that, though. In their latest post, they explain the adaptation process, show us how we the readers/viewers can help, and give a few specific books that have been optioned for adaptation for us to support, which include S.A. Cosby’s Southern Noir thrillers (like All the Sinners Bleed and King of Ashes), Kayvion Lewis’s Thieves’ Gambit (which would be such a fun Ocean’s Elevensy vibe), and Kennedy Ryan’s bestselling Skyland romance series (Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us). Bookstores The People’s Bookstore Is a New Pop-Up That Focuses on BIPOC Lit It’s run by mother-daughter duo Murphy-Washington and her freshman daughter, Breya Jackson, and will feature titles that highlight the history of Black and Indigenous communities. Murphy-Washington said, “Because Black and Indigenous communities were not only feeling the brunt of the attacks on culturally diverse literature, but have also historically had to fight for access to knowledge, I wanted to center literature that spoke to that struggle. I wanted to focus not only on the trials our communities have to overcome, but the triumphs and innovation that are born out of our resistance.” The People’s Bookstore had its first event on September 6th at Beautywood Books in Arkansas. A Bookstore/Wine Bar for Black Lesbians Opens in Brooklyn Not only did Tiffany Dockery use her 401(k) to open a bookstore and wine bar specifically for Black lesbians, she did so in the gentrified neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, which has seen droves and droves of Black residents because of high rents and a lack of housing for the last 15 years. A portrait of Dockery’s grandmother, Gladys, hangs in the bookstore, which Dockery hopes will fortify the spirit of the community. Novel Spotlight The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai has been nominated for the Booker Prize. It follows two Indian families that become intertwined through the years, over continents, and through love and loss. NPR’s review of the 700-page tome calls it “a terrific, tangled love story.” View the full article

Jim Paxson, a University of Dayton alumnus and former NBA All-Star, has joined the university’s athletic department as senior advisor for basketball operations, the school announced Friday. Jim Paxson Returns To Dayton After Incredible College Career Paxson, a 1979 graduate of Dayton, is one of the most accomplished players in Flyer history. A three-time team […] The post Ex-NBA Star Jim Paxson Joins Dayton as Senior Advisor for Basketball Operations appeared first on Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News. View the full article

Over the last three seasons, Lauri Markkanen has been the top dog in Utah. Ahead of 2022-23, the Jazz and Cavaliers were involved in a massive trade. Donovan Mitchell was sent to Cleveland. In that deal, the Jazz acquired three future first-round draft picks, Collin Sexton, and Lauri Markkanen. Last season, Markkanen’s production took a […] The post One NBA insider believes the Jazz will not have Lauri Markkanen on the roster in 2026-27 appeared first on Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News. View the full article

Today’s book recommendation is a nonfiction book that I loved so much that as soon as I finished reading it, I was tempted to read it again. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the creepy and the spoopy, the whimsical and the outrageous. I used to love horror films but about 20 years ago, I stopped being able to handle them and finally had to come to terms with the fact that I became a scaredy cat. This book is for those of us who are chickens yet still love horror enough to read the Wikipedia synopses and maybe even look at some still images now and then, just to feel like we’re included. Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know About the Films You’re Too Scared to Watch by Emily C. Hughes The introduction in this book is titled “Why Horror Matters,” and honestly, it could almost work as a standalone essay. What makes horror a big deal and why do people like feeling scared? It’s a very important framing that, as any good introduction does, sets up the tone and context of the rest of the book. In the meat of the book, Hughes talks about 25 horror films that are important in the genre, in filmmaking, and in American culture. Before diving into specific films, there is a short and necessary section on horror before the 1960s because she starts with the 1960 classic Psycho. The films are divided into three sections by pairs of decades: the 1960s and 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s, and the 2000s and 2010s. Each film is written about in the same format. A single sentence gives you the jist of the film, a reason why you should watch it, and a reason why you should avoid it. Hughes then goes into detail of what happens in each film in a way that is engaging, often funny, not-at-all terrifying, and doesn’t leave you on a cliffhanger (unless the film does that itself). She highlights horror tropes when they come up, which I enjoyed. After the synopsis is my favorite part: why this particular film matters. She talks about the historical context of the film, because that almost always colors the art that is made. Was this during or after a war? What was going on in the news? What was happening in civil rights and what was popular in culture? Each chapter is closed with some fun facts about the making of the film and some recommended books if you don’t think you can bring yourself to watch the movie. This was a fantastic read that is very close to convincing me I should give reading horror a try. That’s it for now, book-lovers! Patricia Find me on Book Riot, the All the Books podcast, Bluesky, and Instagram. Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters. View the full article

Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images Elliot Page recently discussed what it was like working with Christopher Nolan again on the filmmaker’s upcoming epic The Odyssey. The two previously worked together on the 2010 sci-fi action heist feature Inception in one of the film’s most prominent supporting roles. The Odyssey star Elliot Page on collaborating with Christopher Nolan again Page made an appearance at the X-Men: Days of Future Past panel at the 2025 New York Comic Con and reflected on reuniting with director Christopher Nolan after roughly 15 years. “I loved working with him on Inception and loved being a part of that movie,” Page said. “I was just completely jazzed and excited, and [I] basically went and met with Chris and talked about the part, then sat in a room and read the script. It was such a joy to come back.” (via Variety) Page, who transitioned in 2020, underscored what made The Odyssey a “more enjoyable” experience. “To come back now, as you can imagine, being more comfortable in yourself makes these sorts of projects more enjoyable,” Page elaborated. “To get to have a Chris Nolan experience again now meant so much to me selfishly.” Besides directing, Nolan developed the screenplay for the movie as an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic of the same name. Page’s character in the movie remains under wraps. However, it has been revealed that the film’s cast also includes Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as Telemachus, alongside Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, and Himesh Patel. According to the official logline, the movie follows Odysseus as he “embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe.” The production for The Odyssey took place between early and mid-2025 and spanned across multiple continents. The movie debuts in theaters in IMAX and other formats on July 17, 2026. The post The Odyssey’s Elliot Page on Returning for New Christopher Nolan Movie Post-Transition appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article