College basketball weekend schedule features Purdue, UConn in games to watch

No matter where your college allegiances lie, it's worth remembering that Mother Nature is always undefeated. As we look at this weekend's Starting Five, therefore, we remind everyone that logistics might hamper the schedule in some locales, particularly in the eastern half of the country.

We think, however, that the items offered here for your Saturday viewing enjoyment will go on as scheduled. But of course fans should check on game day through official channels. And, above all, if you're traveling, please be safe.

With all that out of the way, here's the Starting Five for a potentially snowy January 24.

No. 24 North Carolina at No. 15 Virginia

Time/TV:Noon ET, ESPN2

This one was moved up a couple hours in hopes of getting it in ahead of the storm. The action on the court should be hot enough for all, however, as the Cavaliers are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Tar Heels got in a needed get-right game against Notre Dame following a rough west-coast trip. The inside-out combo of Thijs De Ridder and Malik Thomas have been carrying the scoring load for UVa. The Tar Heels do most of their damage in the paint via Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but they'll need a few treys to drop as well.

Villanova at No. 3 Connecticut

Time/TV:12:30 p.m. ET, Fox

They're accustomed to winter weather in the northeast, and this one is early enough that it should tip off on time. It's an important contest for both parties, as there are fewer opportunities for high-end wins in the Big East this year. Bryce Lindsay leads a deep Wildcats' backcourt that will have to be ready for UConn's relentless ball pressure. The Huskies haven't exhibited the wire-to-wire dominance of their recent championship runs, but having center Tarris Reed healthy again has been a major boost at both ends of the floor.

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No. 11 Illinois at No. 4 Purdue

Time/TV:3 p.m. ET, Fox

TheBoilermakersreturn home after splitting on their trip to Los Angeles. They don't get much of a break, however, as the Fighting Illini bring an eight-game winning streak into Mackey Arena. Purdue floor general Braden Smith is coming off a bad shooting night at UCLA, but he's still handing out over nine assists a game. Illinois will be without guard Kylan Boswell (hand) for a couple more weeks, but the Illini were able to compensate for his absence in their most recent outing against Maryland.

No. 6 Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech

Time/TV:6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The game of the day might once again involve the Red Raiders, who staged a late rally a week ago to overtake Brigham Young. They now hope to turn the tables on the Cougars, who handed them their lone league loss to date in Houston back on Jan. 6. Since that four-point squeaker against the Red Raiders, Houston dismissed its last three opponents in blowout fashion. Tech's dynamic duo of J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson have been getting some timely help from LeJuan Watts of late. They'll all have their hands full with the Cougars' three-headed monster on the perimeter of Emanuel Sharp, Kingston Flemings and Milos Uzan.

Tennessee at No. 17 Alabama

Time/TV:8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

In addition to being a key SEC contest for both squads, there's a curiosity factor for this contest with the Crimson Tide at the epicenter of the sport's latest eligibility litigation. If Charles Bediako does play, it will likely be for a limited number of minutes backing up Aiden Sherrell, though he would give the Tide another option in the interior defense, which has unquestionably been an Achilles heel for this group. All of this of course is of little concern for the Volunteers, who have struggled to make shots when needed. Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament remain the primary options, but both have seen their shooting percentages dip in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College basketball schedule features five huge games this weekend

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January 23, 2026

College basketball weekend schedule features Purdue, UConn in games to watch

No matter where your college allegiances lie, it's worth remembering that Mother Nature is always undefeated. As we l...

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Washington Spirit sign soccer star Trinity Rodman to reportedly record three-year contract

TheWashington Spiritre-signed star forwardTrinity Rodmanto a record three-year contract on Thursday, with an annual salary of over $2 million,according to her agent.

Rodman, a member of the US Women's National Team (USWNT), becomes the highest-paid player in the history of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the highest-paid female player in the world, according to her agent Mike Senkowski of Upper 90 Sports Group,per ESPN.

Barcelona'sAitana Bonmatí, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner, was reportedly previously the highest-paid women's soccer player.

The contract, which extends through 2028, prevents potentially more lucrative offers from abroad, as the Spirit are constrained by the league's salary cap – which was $3.5 million per team in 2025.

"I've made the DMV my home and the Spirit my family, and I knew this was where I wanted to enter the next chapter of my career," Rodmansaid in a statement.

"I'm proud of what we've built since my rookie season, and I'm excited about where this club is headed. We're chasing championships and raising the standard, and I can't wait to keep doing that with my teammates and the best fans in the NWSL."

Rodman's previous four-year, $1.1 million contract with the Spirit expired December 31, making the 23-year-old forward a free agent.

The Spirit attempted to negotiate a lucrative contract extension and persuade her not to leave for Europe.

Commissioner Jessica Berman vetoed a backloaded four-year contract that reportedly would have paid Rodman more than $1 million per season, framing it as an attempt to circumvent the salary cap.

The NWSL Players Association filed a grievance in early December to oppose the rejection of the deal.

Earlier this month, the NWSLPA filed a separate grievance with the league to oppose the new "High Impact Player" rule, claiming it violates the collective bargaining agreement and federal labor law.

The HIP mechanism – dubbed the "Trinity Rodman rule" and announced in December – allows NWSL clubs to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million to sign certain key players, as defined by a broad set of criteria that include a marketability threshold and nomination for major awards.

Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson became the first player to secure a seven-figure contract year in December when she exercised her player option worth $1 million for 2026, according to multiple reports.

In her five NWSL seasons, Rodman has scored 33 goals with 21 assists in 109 games (94 starts) across all competitions. She became the youngest player in league history to reach 50 career goal contributions.

Rodman scored five goals with two assists in 15 games (nine starts) this past season.

She won the NWSL league championship with Washington in 2021 and an Olympic gold medal in 2024.

The Spirit selected her second overall in the 2021 draft, making her at 18 the youngest player drafted to the league at the time. She was voted 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year.

"Trinity is a generational player, but more importantly, she represents the future of this club and the future of women's soccer," Washington owner Michele Kang said in astatementon Thursday.

"This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment. At the Spirit, we are building something enduring: a club that competes for championships every year, invests in excellence and creates an environment where world-class players can thrive long-term.

"Trinity choosing to continue her career in Washington is a powerful statement about what we are building here."

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Washington Spirit sign soccer star Trinity Rodman to reportedly record three-year contract

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Quirky NFL trivia that could decide Broncos-Patriots, Seahawks-Rams

Party guests, watch out.

It's that time of year when everyone gathers to watch the biggest NFL games of the season, meaning you might have a little more company than usual. In other words, it's time to impress the guests and show your grasp of NFL facts, oddities and useless trivia that have no impact on the games this weekend but are fun nonetheless.

Internet trends have indicated that everyone should party like it's 2016. Ironically enough, the NFL obliged and gave fans a rematch of the 2016 AFC championship game between theDenver Broncos and New England Patriots. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady won't be on the field this time around, but these have been the AFC's best teams all season anyway.

Now it's up toJarrett Stidhamto carry Denver to Super Bowl 60 afterBo Nix's season-ending ankle injury.

Over in the NFC, theSeattle Seahawksare set to host the division rivalLos Angeles Ramsin this winner-take-all third meeting of the season.

With so much history, it's only fitting that we look back on some of the weird and wacky ahead of the conference championships. These won't fit on the inside of a Snapple cap, but feel free to use them to impress your friends, family and random strangers anyway.

Here's a look at some of the factoids, oddities and more ahead of conference championship weekend in the NFL.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

NFL championship weekend factoids and oddities

No former NFL MVPs at QB for the first time since 2010

The best players typically play in the biggest games, which shouldn't come as a surprise.

Despite that, the AFC and NFC championship games feature a quartet of quarterbacks who haven't won the NFL MVP award. It is the first time since 2010 that the weekend won't have an MVP quarterback on the field.

That season, the conference championship quarterback menu was Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Sanchez,Aaron Rodgersand Jay Cutler. Of course, Rodgers went on to become a four-time NFL MVP, but he wasn't one at the time of the game.

Now 15 years later, it'll be Stidham,Drake Maye,Sam DarnoldandMatthew Staffordwho will battle with the trip to Super Bowl 60 on the line.

The Name Game

Both the AFC and NFC championship games feature a coaching matchup between two people with the same first name.

Sean McVay vs. Mike Macdonald. Sean Payton vs. Mike Vrabel.

It sets up the possibility for a Super Bowl matchup between a pair of coaches with the same first name. In Super Bowl history, that has only happened twice:

• Super Bowl 32: Mike Shanahan (Broncos) vs. Mike Holmgren (Packers)

• Super Bowl 45: Mike McCarthy (Packers) vs. Mike Tomlin (Steelers)

Just getting started

Stidham is set to make his first start of the season with Nix out.

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Per Sportradar, Stidham will become the seventh quarterback since 1950, when the stat started being tracked, to start a playoff game without at least one start in the regular season. Here's a look at the list:

• Taylor Heinicke, 2020 Washington

• Connor Cook, 2016 Raiders

• Joe Webb, 2012 Vikings

• Frank Reich, 1992 Bills

• Gary Danielson, 1983 Lions

• Roger Staubach, 1972 Cowboys

Reich was the only one of the group to get a win in the playoff contest.

While Stidham hopes to join Reich in the winner's circle, he'll also join Webb as the only quarterback to start a playoff game without throwing a pass in the regular season. The Broncos' backup last recorded a pass attempt on Jan. 7, 2024, which was his last start that came in Week 18 of the 2023 season.

Stidham will also join Staubach as the second quarterback to make his first start of the season in the conference championship game or Super Bowl.

History not on Patriots side in AFC championship game

ThePatriotshave battled the Broncos five times in the NFL playoffs.

Home teams have dominated the series, going 5-0 in the previous matchups. Four of those games were in Denver, indicating that home-field advantage could be key to winning the AFC championship.

California dreamin' or nightmare?

New England has the most Super Bowl appearances of any NFL team with 11. Despite that, the Patriots have never made the Super Bowl when it was played in California, which has been the case 13 times – the second-most of any state.

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California is set to host the game for the second time in its history – the same building that was the site for the Broncos' most recent triumph in Super Bowl 50.

On the flip side, Denver has made the Super Bowl eight times and four of those games were played in The Golden State.

49ers to spark Seahawks Super Bowl run?

History is on the Seahawks' side heading into the NFC championship game. Seattle's elimination of the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round activated a trend that not only bodes well for this week, but Super Bowl 60 as well.

Dating back to 2002, the 49ers have made the playoffs eight times. The team that eliminated them has gone on to win the Super Bowl seven of those eight times.

Only the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles failed to win the big game, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57.

Familiar foes

The NFC championship game might as well be rebranded as the NFC West championship game this season. Easily the best division in the league, the Seahawks and Rams will, fittingly, battle for a third and final time to determine which team heads to Super Bowl 60.

It will be just the sixth time that a conference championship game will feature a divisional matchup. The winner of the game went on to win the Super Bowl all five times, with the division winner being victorious in four of those matchups.

Here's a look at the recent division-themed conference championship games:

• 2024 NFC Championship: Philadelphia Eagles 55, Washington Commanders 23

• 2021 NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams 20, San Francisco 49ers 17

• 2013 NFC Championship: Seattle Seahawks 23, San Francisco 49ers 17

• 2010 NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers 21, Chicago Bears 14

• 2008 AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Baltimore Ravens 14

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL championship weekend oddities and weird stats

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Quirky NFL trivia that could decide Broncos-Patriots, Seahawks-Rams

Party guests, watch out. It's that time of year when everyone gathers to watch the biggest NFL games of th...

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Zach Bryan Shares Update on Recovery After Surgery for Golf-Ball Sized Cyst

Zach Bryanis recovering from a recent surgery after revealing he had a 'golf-ball' sized cyst on his ankle. The country-folk singer/songwriter took to social media on Thursday, Jan. 22, sharing a handful of photos in hisInstagram Stories, showcasing his current situation in the aftermath of the excision.

The first snapshot captures Bryan's right foot in a cast as he appeared to be seated in the passenger seat of a car. "We're cooked," he captioned, deploying a popularGen Zslang phrase that, in this context, reads as an admission of defeat.

But Bryan, 29, was likely sharing his sarcasm as he revealed in the follow-up post the words: "Guys, nothing serious with my foot — had a cyst the size of a golf ball removed off my ankle fromrunning."

Zach Bryan Said Recovery Could Take a Month

"I'll be back up and at 'em in a month or so," he added before making the request: "If anyone has good book recs, I am in."

Another photo shows Bryan lying in bed and resting his foot as he recovers. The image included a picture of him gearing up to play the video game Call of Duty: World at War.

"We're 15 again," he captioned the image.

The Artist Recently Penned an Emotional Letter to His Mother After Marrying Samantha Leonard

The latest round of updates comes after Bryan tied the knot with hisgirlfriend, now wife,Samantha Leonard, in Spain on New Year's Eve, and followed that up with what appeared to be a heartfelt letter to his late mother,Anette, about his wedding day.

View this post on Instagram

In an emotional social media post, shared on Wednesday, Jan. 20, Bryan captioned a handful of wedding pictures, writing, "I reckon you'd of loved this and her. We all took an aeroplane to Spain last week and you'd of eaten it up. You'd of ordered everything twice and made sure we got your dress perfect. Everyone I love, you woulda too. There was a lot of champagne, andMaclooked beautiful. Samantha'sfamilyis kind, and they don't try to fix me. Dad was doing the splits while smoking a cigar on the dance floor."

"Rocky Lanewas our ring bearer, and I know you'd like that since you named me afterLane Frostso many years ago.KeenanandChrissang love songs and religious hymns while we all listened in a 300-year-old Basilica," he continued, sharing personal moments of his special day that he knew his mother would've enjoyed. "The best string section in the world playedLittle Featall through the pews. If you coulda' seen all the cheek-tearing teeth smiling under the Spanish moon late into themorningon New Year's Day. Belly laughing and just eye-balling Samantha in her dress."

He continued, "You used to tell me about days like this on top of red dirt. We're a long way from Oklahoma, but things resemble home more now than ever. I think of all the moments you've missed often, but Sam reminds me that you're half of me of anyways."

He added, "She is something special and precious. A thing you gotta' keep once she touches yourlife. Makes me feel light. Makes me feel like my hearts beating easy and the days aren't as hard as they once were. Wish you could have seen us smiling like kids when we met on that Spanish beach. She loves a man only a mother could."

"Maybe you're in that Spanish moon," Bryan pondered before concluding his message, with, "I'll see you soon enough, till then I'll tell her you love her."

Related: Did Zach Bryan Just Get Married in Spain? What the Video Shows

This story was originally published byParadeon Jan 23, 2026, where it first appeared in theCelebssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

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Zach Bryan Shares Update on Recovery After Surgery for Golf-Ball Sized Cyst

Zach Bryanis recovering from a recent surgery after revealing he had a 'golf-ball' sized cyst on his ankle. The c...

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FCC targets TV talk shows amid Trump's battles with Kimmel, others

Daytime and late-night television talk shows do not have a blanket exemption from laws requiring stations to offer equal broadcast opportunities to political candidates, the Federal Communication Commission said in new guidance.

The agency'sJan. 21 public noticecomes months after FCC ChairBrendan Carr made comments interpreted by some as a threatto pull the ABC station licenses if Jimmy Kimmel wasn't fired over remarks he made on the air about Charlie Kirk's assassination. PresidentDonald Trump's administration hasalso criticized Seth Meyers,Stephen Colbertand co-hosts of"The View."

Experts told USA TODAY that such laws, which date back decades but have not been broadly enforced against television stations, infringe upon the First Amendment rights of broadcasters to make their own editorial decisions.

"The FCC is not intended to be, and is not empowered to be, the nation's speech police," saidRobert Corn-Revere, chief counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

USA TODAY reached out to the FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters for comment.

What the notice says about late-night TV

TheCommunications Act of 1934required FCC licensees, both in radio and later television, to offer equal opportunities to all legally qualified candidates for a public office to appear on their broadcasts.

Thelaw was amended in 1959to exempt newscasts, news interviews, news documentaries and on-the-spot coverage of news events from that requirement.

The FCC's notice said the agency, under former President George W. Bush's administration in 2006, decided that the interview segment of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" qualified for the news interview exemption.

But that singular decision has been interpreted and applied too broadly in the years since, the FCC said in the new guidance, leading to widespread notions that all daytime and late-night talk shows are exempt from the equal opportunity requirement.

"This is not the case," the notice said.

Rather, the agency said, such decisions are "fact specific" and exemptions are "limited to the program that was the subject of the request."

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Guidance may cause chilling effect among broadcasters

Narrowing the definition of what qualifies as news to exclude talk shows could have "really dramatic implications for the First Amendment," said Jenna Leventoff,senior policy counselat the American Civil Liberties Union.

Her organization supports a broader definition given the vast array of options people now have for keeping up with current events, whether it be traditional news outlets, social media or talk shows, she said.

The 1934 law was based on the limited number of public airwaves. Such rationales are "obsolete" in 2025 because of the dramatic shifts in the media landscape that have happened in the years since, said Institute for Free Speech PresidentDavid Keating.

He said that makes equal opportunity requirements "constitutionally dubious" in the modern context, adding that courts could settle the matter if a lawsuit arises.

In the meantime, he said talk shows may steer clear of booking political candidates in light of the FCC's notice.

"The viewers, I think, and the public will be worse off as a result," he said.

Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel from "The Man Show" appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2001.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmell sits at a late night host practice desk and interviews with "TRL" host Carson Daly in New York on Jan. 14, 2003.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman during 2nd annual Lakers Casino Night Benefiting the Lakers Youth Foundation red carpet at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, in 2005.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the American Cinematheque 24th annual awards show to honor Matt Damon at The Beverly Hilton on March 27, 2010, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel and Emily Blunt onstage during the 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards on Jan. 14, 2011.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel and Flavor Flav at the American Music Awards in 2006.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel and NBA player Kobe Bryant in 2013.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney in New York City in 2014.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel, John Stamos and comedian Don Rickles in Beverly Hills, California, in 2015.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> President Barack Obama talks with Jimmy Kimmel during a taping of his late-night talk show in 2015.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hillary Clinton appears on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show in 2016.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel, wife Molly McNearney and daughter Jane Kimmel attend the 7th annual L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade at UCLA on Sept. 10, 2016, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel attends the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Lionel Richie at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Feb. 13, 2016 in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel present the award for lead actress in a comedy series during the 71st Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sept. 22, 2019.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel court side at a Los Angeles Lakers game in 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel delivers the opening monologue during the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel watches the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during game one of the 2024 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 25, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jimmy Kimmel, winner of the outstanding host for a game show award for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," attends the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on Sept. 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Most memorable Jimmy Kimmel moments as his show returns to air after suspension

Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel from "The Man Show" appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2001.

Though the notice only references television, Corn-Revere said such policies would equally apply to radio because the broadcasting laws apply to both mediums. That would mean conservative talk radio, which has been described asan important factor in Trump's political success, is also bound by equal opportunity requirements.

The extent to which the FCC will take talk shows to task over such requirements is yet to be seen, but Leventoff said "the damage can be done, even without enforcement."

"Sometimes the threat is enough to chill speech," she said.

BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her atbjfrank@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.Funders do not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FCC targets talk shows amid Trump's fights with Kimmel, late-night TV

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FCC targets TV talk shows amid Trump's battles with Kimmel, others

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Melissa Gilbert Was 'Sick with Worry' That 'Something Would Happen' to Husband Timothy Busfield in Jail (Source)

VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• According to a source, Melissa Gilbert was "sick with worry" while her husband Timothy Busfield was in jail

• The West Wing actor had been in custody for a week while awaiting his pretrial detention hearing after his arrest on child sex abuse allegations

• He was officially charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) and one count of child abuse on Jan. 13

Melissa Gilbertis "grateful" that husbandTimothy Busfieldis no longer in jail.

After spending a week behind bars in a New Mexico facility, Busfield wasreleased on Jan. 20 pending his trialon charges of child sexual abuse. A source tells PEOPLE that it's a relief for both Busfield, 68, andThe Little House on the Prairiealum, 61.

"The court hearing was obviously very emotional and stressful," the source says. "Things are clearly far from over, but the main focus of getting Tim out of jail was accomplished. They're both very grateful. Melissa has been sick with worry that something would happen to him in jail."

The insider adds that they're "very involved" working with their lawyer on the defense. "They have this huge group of friends that support and check in on them every day," the source says. "Melissa is very grateful for the support. She'll be attending all the court hearings with Tim. She believes he's innocent."

Sam Wasson/Getty

When the ruling was announced on Jan. 20, an emotional Gilbert whispered, "Thank you, God," from the courtroom audience. She has strongly supported Busfield,whom she married in April 2013, since he surrendered to police.

On Jan. 13, theWest Wingactor surrendered to authorities and wasofficially chargedwith two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) and one count of child abuse. Four days prior, the Albuquerque Police Departmentissued an arrest warrantalleging that Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys, whom he met on the set of FOX'sThe Cleaning Ladywhen they were child actors and he served as a director.

"Melissa stands with and supports her husband," Gilbert's representative Ame Van Iden said in a statement issued on the actress' behalf at the time.

Before turning himself in, Busfield proclaimed his innocence in a video obtained byTMZ.

"They're all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I'm gonna fight it. I'm gonna fight it with a great team, and I'm gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies," he said at the time.

Ahead of his pretrial detention hearing, Gilbert was one of 75 people whowrote letters of supportfor Busfield to the judge in the case.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

She called Busfield "my love, my rock, my partner in business and life," adding that she knows him "better and more intimately than anything in his life ever has."

She then asked the judge to keep him safe while in jail. "I only want this extraordinary man safe and whole. So, I will close by asking you to please, please, take care of my sweet husband," she wrote. "As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart, I am relying on your to protect him for me."

Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

In the days leading up to the hearing, a source told PEOPLE that "the past week has been a nightmare for Melissa," echoing her worries about Busfield being in jail.

"She's very concerned about Tim in jail. She wants him out so he's safe. The detention facility where he's being held has safety issue complaints. Her focus is to try and get him out this week," the source said at the time.

When Busfield was released, his civil lawyer Larry Stein told PEOPLE thatthe couple was "still in shockthat it happened to them and they're still distressed. But obviously they're in a better mood than they were yesterday before he was released."

"We're taking one day at a time," Stein concluded.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article onPeople

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Melissa Gilbert Was 'Sick with Worry' That 'Something Would Happen' to Husband Timothy Busfield in Jail (Source)

VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty NEED TO KNOW According to a source, Melissa Gilbert was "sick with worry" while her husband Timothy ...

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Rail fracture likely occurred before train crash in southern Spain, investigators say

MADRID, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A fracture in the rail appeared to have occurred before a high-speed train derailed in southern Spain ​last Sunday, rail accident investigating body CIAF said in a ‌preliminary report published on Friday.

Sunday's deadly collision in Adamuz, Cordoba province, killed 45 in one ‌of Europe's worst train accidents. A first train belonging to private consortium Iryo derailed and smashed into another oncoming high-speed train from state-owned rail company Renfe.

"Based on the information available at this time, it can be hypothesised that ⁠the rail fracture occurred ‌prior to the passage of the Iryo train involved in the accident and, therefore, prior to the derailment," read ‍the CIAF report, posted on the body's website.

CIAF said the causes for the breakage had yet to be established and nothing had been ruled out.

Reuters wrote on ​Tuesday that investigators had identified a broken joint on the rail ‌track in an exclusive report.

The Transport Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Iryo's majority owner, Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, declined to comment on the report.

Investigators found uniform notches on several of the wheel treads on the right-hand side of the Iryo train, ⁠according to the report.

The marks were consistent ​with the wheels striking the top of ​a rail, and a visual comparison suggested the wheel notches match damage seen on the broken rail section at the ‍derailment site, it ⁠added.

CIAF said it had also found similar wheel damage on other trains that passed through the area before the crash.

The report's findings ⁠must be confirmed by further calculations and detailed analysis, CIAF cautioned.

(Reporting by David Latona and ‌Jesús Calero; Additional reporting by Giulia Segreti in Rome; Editing ‌by Pietro Lombardi and Sharon Sngleton)

byCosmopolite

in

January 23, 2026

Rail fracture likely occurred before train crash in southern Spain, investigators say

MADRID, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A fracture in the rail appeared to have occurred before a high-speed train derailed in souther...

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