MON SIX

"The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children. Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL," the team wrote. "Jessi and her children will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them."

The NHL also shared condolences to Pierce's family, noting her work as a contributor to the league's in-house media, NHL.com.

"The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children," the league wrote in a statement. "Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly."

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Several members of the NHL media also posted in tribute to Pierce. Michael Russo, the Wild beat reporter at The Athletic, and Kirsten Krull, Pierce's co-host on the podcast Bardown Beauties, both posted lengthy tributes Sunday morning, with other media members like ESPN's Greg Wyshynski and The Athletic's Zack Pierce chiming in.

"My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi's family, friends and colleagues for this unimaginable loss. This hockey community lost a wonderful, energetic and one of a kind voice and story teller and Grade A person," Russo wrote. "Life can be unbearably unfair sometimes, and it's impossible to make sense of this tragedy."

Bill Price, the Editor-in-Chief of NHL.com, where Pierce was a contributor for the past 10 seasons,also spokeabout Pierce's presence in hockey media.

"The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children," Price said. "Jessi's love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us.

"She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. She will be deeply missed."

TheNew York Giantsrunning back issued an apology on social media for remarks that he made about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma during an episode of the"Bring the Juice" podcast on March 9.

Skattebo's appearance on the show, and the comments that were made,

"I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma,"Skattebo said in a post to X on March 21. "It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma. I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I'll be more mindful and respectful going forward.

"Much love !!!"

The running back has never been one to shy away from contact, even if his head is the thing initiating it. There is a viral clip of Skattebo banging his head against a wall, which is fitting for his style of play.

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

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" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

It's something that made Skattebo a fan-favorite wherever he goes, but the concussion and CTE discussion remains a main topic of interest around the 24-year-old. That's why it came as no surprise that "Bring the Juice" host Frank Delana quickly brought up the topic.

"Do you think CTE is real?" Delana asked.

"No," Skattebo said. "It's an excuse."

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Skattebo agreed when the host added that he thought asthma was also an excuse.

"Is that a hot take?" Delana asked.

"No, that's a good take," Skattebo said. "Yes, asthma's fake."

"Is there anything worse than when you're in fourth grade and someone's huffin' and puffin'?" Delana said. "You're just soft."

"Yeah, just literally breathe air," Skattebo said.

The exchange appeared to be in a more sarcastic tone rather than an attempt to draw conclusions rooted in science. Sarcasm or not, the comments quickly spread on social media and put Skattebo in the spotlight.

It was something that Skattebo's mother, Becky, pointed out on social media.

"If only people knew how many times cam had to "run and get mom's inhaler" they'd realize the sarcasm...you'll never make everyone happy and you'll never say all the right things and people are bound to spin something sooner or later in a direction it was never intended to go,"Becky Skattebo wrote on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Cam Skattebo apologizes for 'tasteless joke' calling CTE an 'excuse'

DeChambeau, who also won a playoff last Sunday at LIV Golf Singapore, scrambled to save par on the final hole to force a playoff. After his drive on the first playoff hole (No. 18) went left and landed in water from an earlier driving rain, DeChambeau was granted relief and used a fairway wood to hit the ball roughly 12 feet from the pin at The Club at Steyn City for a try at an eagle.

Rahm's second shot landed in the bunker in front of the green, and his third shot left him with a 15-foot birdie putt. When it didn't fall, DeChambeau had the luxury of a two-putt for a birdie on the par-5 hole and a win.

DeChambeau finished his bogey-free round at 5-under-par 66 on Sunday and 26-under 258 for the tournament.

By winning his fifth LIV Golf title, DeChambeau pocketed $4 million for winning the inaugural event in South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open winner also claimed his share of $3 million more after his quartet, the Crushers, won the team event by defeating South Africa's Southern Guards by a single shot with 76 under-par.

"A lot has happened in the past week," an emotional DeChambeau said without elaborating. "I'm just so grateful for my team, the Crushers, everybody supporting me. It's so funny, golf is a fickle game, and you work so hard at it your whole entire life, and you realize that golf is just golf and there's a lot more to life than just golf.

"I had some things happen in the off time during this week, and I was just praying all day, praying to give me the perseverance to move forward and keep looking forward."

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The Crushers, who consists of DeChambeau, Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey and Charles Howell III, became the winningest team in LIV Golf after the victory on Sunday. Southern Guards, made up of four South Africans, could not hole a nine-shot lead they had on the front nine to win the team title.

"That's pretty awesome," Howell said of the victory and the record ninth title. "Well, we're also the only team that's stayed together for the whole time. We've never split up. It's been us. Just how about the golf there by Bryson again. That was pretty special golf."

Rahm, of Spain, blazed up the leaderboard with an 8-under 63 on Sunday, a round that featured six birdies and an eagle.

Thomas Detry (65) of Belgium, Branden Grace (67) of South Africa and Abraham Ancer (66) of Mexico tying for third place at 23-under.

It was announced Sunday that the event at The Club at Steyn City will host LIV Golf again from April 22-25, 2027.

LIV Golf's next event comes April 16-19 at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City following a break for the Masters. Joaquin Niemann of Chile is the defending champion while DeChambeau tied for second place and Rahm finished fourth in the event last year.

--Field Level Media

China will import more high-quality foreign goods and work with all ‌parties to promote optimised and balanced trade development and expand the global trade pie, Li told the China Development Forum in Beijing, according to state media.

The annual two-day ​forum, which concludes on Monday, allows Beijing to lay out its economic vision and investment opportunities to foreign business leaders, Chinese officials, economists and academics.

It comes after the world's second-biggest economy reported a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus for 2025.

Challenges for Beijing are aplenty, including deflecting concerns from an increasing number of global capitals about China's trade practices and overcapacity, as well as their overreliance on key Chinese products.

While Li's speech did ‌not appear to directly mention the surplus, his ⁠pledges indicate an awareness that the issue could disrupt international relations at a time when China has reached a temporary truce with the U.S. on trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week postponed a trip to Beijing to ⁠meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping due to the Iran war, delaying an effort to ease tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

In a separate speech at the forum, China's central bank governor Pan Gongsheng also sought to alleviate concerns surrounding the trade surplus.

"Analysing global economic imbalances requires looking not ​only ​at trade in goods but also services, and not only at the ​current account but also the financial account," Pan said, ‌according to a transcript of his speech published by the People's Bank of China, adding that China is the country with the largest goods surplus but also the largest services deficit.

China has no need and no intention to gain trade competitive advantage through currency depreciation, Pan said.

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FOREIGN INVESTMENT PUSH

China is working to reverse a decline in foreign direct investment, which fell 5.7% year-on-year to just over 92 billion yuan ($13.36 billion) in January, following a 9.5% drop over the course of 2025.

In December, China added 200 sectors to a list of those ‌eligible for foreign investment incentives, from tax breaks to preferential land use, with ​a focus on advanced manufacturing, modern services and green and high-tech sectors.

Li said ​foreign firms would be treated in the same way as ​domestic ones, allowing enterprises from all countries to develop with confidence and realise their ambitions in China.

In a ‌separate meeting, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told business leaders ​from a U.S. pharmaceutical trade group ​and executives from five major multinational drug companies that China will strengthen intellectual property protection and improve policy transparency.

AppleChief Executive Tim Cook in a keynote speech said that the company would continue to work with Chinese suppliers to further advance ​the industry, state media reported.

Senior executives from Samsung ‌Electronics, Volkswagen, chipmaker Broadcom Inc, industrial conglomerate Siemens, chemical producer BASF and pharmaceuticals firm Novartis are among those attending ​the forum.

Financial institutions including HSBC Holdings, UBS Group and Standard Chartered also sent representatives.

($1 = 6.8857 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by ​Liam Mo and Ryan Woo; Editing by William Mallard, Kirsten Donovan)

Ordinary Russians and even pro-Kremlin hawks have offered rare public pushback against the campaign to throttle Telegram, warning it could backfire, not just at home but for Russia's military inUkraine.

The app is woven into the daily existence of those who support and oppose the government alike. But the Kremlin is instead pushing people to its new "national" messenger MAX, which many fear could be used to surveil them as part of a deepening crackdown on freedoms since the invasion of Ukraine. Those fears have been amplified by a wave ofmobile internet outages, includingrecent disruptions in Moscow, which authorities have justified as necessary for security.

For months, Russians have complained that Telegram was working slower and more sporadically, and this week users began reporting a major slowdown.

NBC News spoke to ordinary Russians, pro-regime figures and human rights activists about the country's new digital reality.

'Criminal' throttling of Telegram

Millions in Russia use Telegram daily for private communication and crucial information.

Russian officials, Kremlin propagandists, war bloggers, businesses and celebrities are on the app. More than a messenger, it's an ecosystem for everything from updates on incoming Ukrainian drones to general news and commentary.

But authorities have increasingly presented Telegram as a breeding ground for terrorism and criminal activity, with the country's communications regulator restricting the app and targeting its Russian founder. Similar grounds have already been used to restrict other messaging apps, including the Meta-owned WhatsApp.

The latest campaign has drawn criticism from even the most avid supporters ofPresident Vladimir Putin.

Pro-Kremlin gamer and activist Grigory Korolyov, who also goes by the nickname GrishaPutin, uses Telegram to help fundraise for the Russian army — in exchange for a donation, he offers stickers that Russian soldiers on the front lines then put on their artillery shells and fire at Ukraine.

Korolyov, 19, calls himself a "cyber warrior" in Putin's so-called special military operation, the term the Kremlin uses for its war. Despite his professed patriotism, the St. Petersburg native told NBC News he doesn't understand the logic of restricting or banning Telegram. In fact, he thinks it's "criminal."

The app has become a hub for a "patriotically leaning" audience and pro-war commentators, he said in a phone interview, and is used by thousands of people like him to fundraise for the Russian army.

"I can only assume that there is a lofty goal of making everything sovereign, but what's happening right now is just sabotage," Korolyov said.

Another activist, Olga Krygina, gathers humanitarian aid — clothes, water and medical supplies — for Russian troops and civilians in occupied areas of Ukraine, which she calls Russia's "new territories" in line with the Kremlin's rhetoric.

Originally from Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk, Krygina, 54, now lives in St. Petersburg and told NBC News in a phone interview that Telegram has been effective in helping her organize and deliver the aid. But Krygina said she and her fellow volunteers have been growing their presence on MAX, anticipating a possible ban.

Krygina said she doesn't have any issue with using the new national messenger, though she said a Telegram shutdown "won't be pleasant."

She said she accepts the Russian government's move toward banning Telegram, because "our secret services know better."

The Kremlin says Telegram is not complying with Russian laws and not cooperating with authorities to stop serious crimes it says are being perpetrated on the app. It has confirmed to NBC News reports in two Russian newspapers that Pavel Durov, the Russian-born tech mogul who founded Telegram in 2013, is being investigated for "assisting terrorism activity." No official charges have been filed.

Durovdismissedthe case against him, calling it "a sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people" in a post on X last month.

"Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship," Durovsaid.

It's not just Russia that has leveled these accusations, though. Durov wasarrested in Francein 2024 andchargedwith enabling various forms of criminality on his app. He waspermitted to leave Francelast year afterpledging to "significantly improve" the site's moderationof criminal activity.

Telegram did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News.

Roskomnadzor, the Russian communications regulator, has not officially said it plans to ban Telegram. Asked about the most recent slowdown on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News he had "nothing to add" and was not aware of any contacts with the messenger's management.

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'Forced' alternative

In slushy streets next to central Moscow's Pushkinskaya Square, people were reluctant to talk about a possible ban and whether they would consider switching to MAX. Most only wanted to speak their minds without sharing their full names, as is usually the case in Russia, where dissent is punished.

"Unfortunately, it's being forced, and I don't like it," said Varvara about the new national messenger. "That's why I don't install it."

Artem, 44, said he has installed MAX, but has experienced connectivity problems, blaming its developers for making a "crap" product. He said he was not worried about security, as he feels Telegram is just as unsafe.

Russia tried to ban Telegram for failing to provide the FSB state security servicewith its encryption keysin 2018, but was unsuccessful.

Instead, the messenger continued to grow in popularity and is widely used by Russian state officials and Kremlin propagandists. It's equally as popular among Kremlin critics.

Dmitrii Zair-Bek with Pervy Otdel, a human rights project helping people facing politically motivated charges in Russia, said they use Telegram to establish "primary contact" with Russians who need their help.

"They want to block Telegram because of organizations like us — independent information sources, not controlled by the Kremlin," he said. Zair-Bek, who is currently based outside Russia, expects many inside the country will continue using Telegram, however, by installing a virtual private network (VPN) — technology that has allowed Russians to bypass online restrictions.

Some people also told NBC News they were considering buying another phone for downloading the state-backed messenger if there is pressure to do so. The app's creators say the number of usershas already reached 100 million, or nearly 70% of Russia's population.

"I only plan to switch to MAX if there is no other way," said Maria from Moscow, who did not want her last name shared because of security concerns.

But Zair-Bek is worried it will be difficult for his organization to reach less tech-savvy people, so it is considering having some presence on MAX.

The "national messenger" is similar in functionality to Telegram, but it's also integrated with Russia's government services portal and can be used as a form ofdigital ID.

As of September, itmust be preinstalledon all electronic devices in Russia. Officials are increasingly redirecting their Telegram audiences there, with one regional governoralerting Ukrainian drone attacksonly on MAX.

But users have been reporting bugs and security concerns,rating the app poorlyand sharing online memes about pressure to use it.

'Shooting itself in the foot'

The potential Telegram ban has been harshly criticized by Russia's popular military bloggers, who say the army relies on the platform for battlefield communications in Ukraine.

"For mobile fire groups assigned to combat [drones], Telegram has long been the only (and again, in all caps, ONLY) communication channel,"wroteinfluential military channel Two Majors last month.

Some bloggers reported this week, citing sources on the front lines, that Russian soldiers were being told to remove Telegram from their phones or face punishment. NBC News could not independently verify these reports.

Firebrand politician and ardent Putin supporter Sergei Mironov has also been left fuming, calling Russian authorities "idiots" for slowing down Telegram. Russian troops "often have nothing" but Telegram to communicate,Mironov said. "Don't deprive them of what helps them defeat the enemy and save their lives."

The Russian military in Ukraine only uses "standard communications systems" not linked to messengers including Telegram, Russia's Defense Ministry insisted last month.

The Kremlin has also resisted the outrage, with Putin receiving a report at a recent public event from a commander of a communications battalion who said there were "no problems" with the army's communication systems and that Telegram was a "hostile messenger."

But military logistics specialists told NBC News the Russian army does rely on Telegram for tactical communication, and the Kremlin doesn't have much of a viable alternative.

The Russian military is likely to try replacing it with MAX, but there is no data yet on how effective it could be on the battlefield, said Ronald Ti, an expert in military logistics at King's College London.

The Kremlin has "prioritized regime security over tactical effectiveness," Ti said.

Where you live, what you're allergic to and your lifestyle can make a big difference when it comes to theseverity of your allergies. Experts say climate change is leading to longer and more intense allergy seasons, but also point out that treatments for seasonal allergies have become more effective over the last decade.

Here are some tips from experts to keep allergy symptoms at bay — maybe even enough to allow you toenjoy the outdoors.

New cities top the list of 'allergy capitals'

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issuesan annual rankingof the most challenging cities to live in if you have allergies, based on over-the-counter medicine use, pollen counts and the number of available allergy specialists.

This year, the top five cities are: Boise, Idaho; San Diego; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Provo, Utah; and Rochester, New York.

Pollen helps plants reproduce — and makes us miserable

Pollen is the powdery substance made by seed-producing plants and trees that is part of their reproductive process. Earlier inthe spring, tree pollen is the main culprit. After that grasses pollinate, followed by weeds in the late summer and early fall.

Some of the most common tree pollens that cause allergies include birch, cedar, cottonwood, maple, elm, oak and walnut, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Grasses that cause symptoms include Bermuda, Johnson, rye and Kentucky bluegrass.

Here's how to track pollen levels

Pollen trackers can help you decide when to go outside. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology tracks levels through a network of counting stations across the U.S. Counts are availableat its website and via email.

The first step is to try to avoid pollen altogether

The best and first step to controlling allergies is avoiding exposure. Keep the windows in your car and your home closed, even when it's nice outside.

If you go outside, wearing long sleeves can keep pollen off your skin to help ward off allergic reactions, said Dr. James Baker, an allergist at the University of Michigan. It also provides some sun protection, he added.

When you get home, change your clothes and shower daily to ensure all the pollen is off of you — including your hair. If you can't wash your hair every day, try covering it when you go outside with a hat or scarf. Don't get in the bed with your outside clothes on, because the pollen will follow.

It's also useful to rinse your eyes and nose with saline to remove any pollen, experts said. And the same masks that got us through the pandemic can protect you from allergies — though they won't help with eye symptoms.

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How to relieve allergy symptoms

Over-the-counter nasal sprays are among the most effective treatments for seasonal allergies, experts said.

But patients often use them incorrectly, irritating parts of the nose, said Dr. Kathleen May, an allergist at Augusta University in Georgia. She suggested angling the nozzle outward toward your ear rather than sticking it straight up your nose.

Over-the-counter allergy pills like Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec are helpful, but may not be as effective as quickly since they're taken by mouth, experts said.

If your allergy symptoms are impacting your quality of life, like causing you to lose sleep or loose focus at work or school, it might be time to consider making an appointment with an allergist. There are medications that can train you immune system not to overreact to allergens.

Some remedies for allergy relief that have been circulating on social media or suggested by celebrities — like incorporating local honey into your diet to expose yourself to pollen — have been debunked.

Dr. Shyam Joshi, an allergist at Oregon Health and Science University, said that's because the flowers that bees pollinate typically don't contain the airborne pollen that causes allergy symptoms.

Is allergy season changing?

Winters are milder and growing seasons are longer as the climate is changing, meaning there's more opportunity for pollen to stay in the air, resulting in longer and more severe allergy seasons.

Last year was one of the most intense allergy seasons on record, particularly in the Southeast U.S.

A version of this story was published April 19, 2025. The writer is no longer with The Associated Press.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Games played on Friday and Saturday were mostly upset-free. Michigan State, Baylor and Iowa survived close calls against double-digit seeds, while No. 10 Virginia triumphed over No. 7 Georgia in overtime. Two No. 9 seeds, Syracuse and USC, also advanced.

No mid-major teams are left in the field. Aside from top-seeded UConn of the Big East, the other 31 teams remaining are all from Power 4 conferences.

In the minds of oddsmakers, not much has changed. According to thelatest odds from BetMGMas of early Sunday morning, the undefeated UConn Huskies were still the overwhelming favorite at -275.

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Texas Tech survives Villanova to move on in March Madness

The second overall seed, UCLA, is still second in odds at +500. Texas is third at +650, and South Carolina is fourth at +900.

Oregon — which faces Texas on Sunday — has the longest odds at +75000.

Here are the betting odds for each of the 32 teams still playing in the Women's NCAA Tournament to win the national championship:

Women's basketball national championship odds

1. UConn -275

2. UCLA +500

3. Texas +650

4. South Carolina +900

5. LSU +1700

6. Vanderbilt +5000

7. Michigan +9000

8. Duke +10000

9. Iowa +10000

10. Louisville +10000

11. Oklahoma +12500

12. TCU +12500

13. Kentucky +12500

14. Alabama +15000

15. Maryland +17500

16. Notre Dame +20000

17. North Carolina +20000

18. Ole Miss +20000

19. Ohio State +20000

20. Texas Tech +20000

21. USC +25000

22. Baylor +25000

23. West Virginia +25000

24. Minnesota +25000

25. Oklahoma State +30000

26. Michigan State +30000

27. Washington +30000

28. Virginia +30000

29. Illinois +30000

30. NC State +35000

31. Syracuse +50000

32. Oregon +75000

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ranking 32 remaining Women's NCAA Tournament teams by odds to win March Madness