The NBA's Got a Gambling Scandal

What's Happening

US News

The NBA's Got a Gambling Scandal

What's going on: Just days into the NBA season, and the biggest story is happening off the court. Federal officials announced yesterday that they arrested more than 30 people across 11 states in connection with illegal sports betting and gambling. On the roster: Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones, and other unnamed players. Rozier is accused of faking an injury in the 2023 season so certain bettors could profit from his low stats. In a separate case, prosecutors said Billups lured people into Mafia-run poker games by promising they’d play with former pro-athletes — only to rig the games with an X-ray poker table and special contact lenses that could read marked cards. The FBI said the schemes cost victims “tens of millions of dollars.” Could this be the story to reunite the Safdie brothers?

What it means: The indictments could hurt the NBA’s reputation as fans question the integrity of the game. US Attorney Joseph Noccella called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes” since 38 states and Washington, DC, legalized online sports betting. But when players and coaches allegedly cash in by rigging the game, it’s not just illegal; it takes away the fun. Rozier and Billups are both set to appear in court on money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Rozier’s lawyer says his client — only the second NBA player ever investigated for game-fixing — is ready to fight this “non-case.” The league said it’s cooperating with federal investigators and that everyone involved has been placed on immediate leave. You never hear about this kind of drama in the women’s leagues.

Related: The Death of a Chess Grandmaster Has People Asking What Really Happened? (AP)

Health

The UTI Culprit We Didn't See Coming…

What's going on: Well, well, well. After years of being told to blame our hygiene and sexual habits for urinary tract infections, we have a new culprit: contaminated meat. In a four-year study of patients, researchers found that nearly one in five UTIs in that group likely came from eating or handling E. coli–infected chicken, turkey, pork, or beef. The bacteria entered the gut after patients touched or ate the meat and eventually made their way into the urinary tract through the urethra. UTIs are painfully common — about 6 to 8 million cases a year — and roughly 80% are caused by E. coli bacteria.

What it means: Turns out, UTIs can be foodborne — something scientists only began to realize in recent decades. If only they studied women’s health… a lot more. Experts say preventing cross-contamination can help: Wash your hands and cutting boards after touching raw meat. But one of the study’s lead authors, Lance Price, thinks the burden shouldn’t fall entirely on consumers. Price argues that regulators and meat producers need tighter safety standards, from cleaner supply chains to better packaging. In other words? With recent warnings that federal job cuts could weaken food safety oversight, it might not be such a stretch to say: go ahead and blame the government for your next UTI (tell that to your sex-shaming doctor). 

Related: mRNA Covid Shots Show Unexpected Cancer-Fighting Potential (NBC News)

Politics

He Came In Like a Wrecking Ball

What's going on: The East Wing of the White House is now rubble. Crews finished tearing it down this week to clear space for President Donald Trump’s privately-funded ballroom — now a $300 million project he once claimed wouldn’t touch the historic structure. Preservation groups have called for construction to stop while the plans undergo review, warning it’s the most dramatic White House change since Truman’s reconstruction. The West Wing and main residence remain intact, but the section that once housed the first lady’s office — where Rosalynn Carter defined the role, Betty Ford fought for fair pay, and Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move — is gone.

What it means: This goes deeper than bricks and marble. Experts say the demolition erases a space long tied to women’s leadership — and echoes Trump’s approach to governing: sweeping aside precedent and moving faster than courts, Congress, or watchdogs can react. He’s already torn up the Rose Garden, added flagpoles tall enough to spot from space, and floated plans for an Arc de Triomphe–style arch near DC. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off questions about the demo, calling it “necessary” for long-term stability. Meanwhile, as federal workers miss paychecks and families fear losing food aid, the optics feel even starker.

Related: Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith Wants To Tell Congress Everything (CNN)

Know It All

Iceland used to be the only country in the world without these pests. Not anymore. What are they?

Game Time

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