Monthly Archives: January 2026

finance, legislation, politics

Senator Lummis says delay likely for market structure bill: Bloomberg

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US Senator Cynthia Lummis reportedly expects the US Senate Banking Committee to delay its hearing on crypto market structure legislation after Coinbase withdrew support for the bill.

There were already some murmurs of a CLARITY Act Senate markup delay on Wednesday, which intensified following an X post from Bloomberg reporter Steven Dennis on Wednesday night. Dennis stated: “Lummis tells me her recommendation and expectation is that the markup be pulled for now. It’s Banking Chair Tim Scott’s call.”

The Senate markup is scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 am Eastern Time. Cointelegraph reached out to Scott’s office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Lawmakers have been consulting with members of the banking and crypto industries over provisions of the CLARITY Act for several weeks. However, Coinbase publicly withdrew its support for the bill on Wednesday, citing concerns that the latest text was unfavorable to the industry.

In addition to eliminating stablecoin rewards, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong highlighted several concerns, including restrictions on tokenized stocks, the government having unlimited access to financial records, and the US commodities regulator receiving less authority over the crypto markets than initially anticipated.

Armstrong summarized the company’s position: “This version would be materially worse than the current status quo. We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill. Hopefully we can all get to a better draft.”

This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Related: A16z raises $15B, says crypto a ‘key’ to America winning next 100 years
https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-market-structure-bill-hearing-could-be-delayed-after-coinbase-pulls-support-report

gaming, release dates, video games

Aerial_Knight’s DropShot gets February release date

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Aerial_Knight’s DropShot, the highly anticipated follow-up from the creator of Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield, is set to arrive this late winter. Fans can mark their calendars for its release on February 17, 2026.

The game will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, including both Steam and the Epic Games Store (EGS).

In Aerial_Knight’s DropShot, players take on the role of Smoke Wallace, a man who was bitten by a dragon at a young age. This encounter gave him unique purple skin and the remarkable ability to shoot bullets from his fingertips.

The gameplay features intense, fast-paced action as you plummet through the sky, shooting at descending enemies while racing to the ground. Prepare for a thrilling experience that combines high-flying movement with precision shooting.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147417/aerial-knights-dropshot-release-date

general

Polarizing Transfer Portal QB TJ Finley Signs with Seventh College Program

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Lane Kiffin is not the final boss of the transfer portal. Nor is it Curt Cignetti, who turned Indiana from cannon fodder to possibly one of the most dominant teams in college football history. There is only one true final boss of the transfer portal, and his name is TJ Finley.

If you are a newer college football fan or don’t have the best memory, it is easy not to recognize that name right off the bat. Do I mean Steve Finley, the former San Francisco Giants baseball player? Or did I mean Michael Finley? You know, the Dallas Mavericks basketball player?

Finley will play for the FCS school Incarnate Word in the 2026 season, as he will turn 24 during spring practice. How did we get here?

Well, it started all the way back in 2018 when Finley was one of the premier quarterback prospects in the high school circuit and signed with the LSU Tigers in 2019. This was when Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase were all in school, blowing out every team by 50 points.

In 2020, Finley was named a starter but lost the job to Max Johnson midway through the season. He then jumped into the transfer portal for the first time that offseason, transferring to SEC rival Auburn.

At Auburn, he was the backup to Bo Nix — yes, Denver Broncos starting QB Bo Nix — in 2021, then became the starter in 2022 before suffering a severe injury that ended his career as a Tiger.

Then came 2023 and his year with Texas State. There, Finley threw for a program record 24 touchdowns and skyrocketed his stock again with 3,439 yards through the air.

In 2024, Western Kentucky became his new home after entering the transfer portal once more. Like at Auburn, this stint was cut short due to injury when he hurt his leg in the third week of the season, requiring surgery.

After recouping, Finley decided to jump back into the transfer portal. This most recent season, he transferred to Tulane, which would have been his best chance to prove himself in years under the now-Florida coach Jon Sumrall. Unfortunately, he was effectively kicked off the team after being found in possession of a stolen car.

Finley did a U-turn and jumped right back into the safety of the transfer portal, where he landed at Georgia State and then started six games. He ended the season with a disappointing six touchdowns to seven interceptions.

And now, finally, he is part of the Incarnate Word Cardinal football team as their quarterback — a journey across the country and six trips through the transfer portal. Not confusing at all.

—

**More News:**

– Oregon Loses QB Amid Dylan Raiola Transfer Portal Buzz
– LSU’s Lane Kiffin Makes Last-Minute Trip for Top-Rated Transfer Portal QB
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/polarizing-transfer-portal-qb-tj-finley-signs-with-seventh-college-program-11355639

college football, recruitment, sports

Virginia Gets Commitment From Former Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein

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The Hoos Bolster Their Quarterback Room

The University of Virginia football team is strengthening its quarterback position ahead of the upcoming season. With a combination of experienced players and promising newcomers, the Hoos aim to create a dynamic and competitive quarterback room.

This reinforcement is expected to enhance the team’s offensive capabilities and provide more depth at a critical position. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these additions will impact the Hoos’ performance on the field.

Stay tuned for more updates on the team’s roster and upcoming season developments.
https://www.si.com/college/virginia/football/virginia-gets-commitment-from-former-pittsburgh-qb-eli-holstein-01kex162z7ma

consumer safety, fuel contamination, public health

Over 400 consumers file complaints over contaminated fuel at Denver-area gas stations

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More than 400 consumers have filed complaints with the Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) after a contaminated fuel mix was distributed to several gas stations across the Denver metro area last week.

Consumers quickly turned to social media and OPS for answers upon learning that diesel fuel was mixed with regular unleaded gasoline and distributed to gas stations operated by Costco, Murphy Express, and King Soopers. At least 13 King Soopers gas stations were affected.

State officials reported that the contaminated fuel originated from the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson and was sent out to “numerous” gas stations. The fuel was distributed between 2 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday.

“OPS continues to log and process these complaints,” the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment wrote in an email to The Post on Monday evening. “Inspections and fuel sample testing remain ongoing with a focus on smaller locations that may not have as robust of a claims filing process. All retailers are being encouraged to honor customer claims.”

OPS has also requested that Sinclair produce a list of retailers that received the contaminated fuel from the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson. Although Sinclair has not yet provided the list, OPS is hopeful it will be released in the coming days.

Consumers impacted by the contaminated fuel are encouraged to contact their point of sale to start the reimbursement process. Individual gas stations will work with each customer through their specific claims procedure. Those affected should keep all receipts and repair records for reference.

To file a complaint, consumers can call 303-866-4967 or fill out a consumer complaint form and email it to cdle_oil_inspection@state.co.us. King Soopers customers who believe they received contaminated fuel should reach out to their local store for assistance.

“OPS continues to investigate the cause of the incident and is considering appropriate enforcement mechanisms available under current OPS rules and regulations,” the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment added in their statement. “OPS remains committed to protecting consumers and is exploring all options to ensure Sinclair also upholds its commitment to help affected customers.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/01/12/denver-contaminated-gas-stations-complaints/

sports

Miami Offers Ty Simpson Record-Breaking Deal After Missing on Sam Leavitt

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Many believed the Miami Hurricanes were in a strong position to land former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt after hosting him on a transfer portal visit over the weekend. However, by Monday, Leavitt announced where he’ll be playing college football in 2026—and it wasn’t in Coral Gables.

Despite a last-ditch effort from Tennessee, Leavitt ultimately chose to play for Lane Kiffin at LSU. This decision leaves the Hurricanes without a clear successor to Carson Beck for the 2026 season.

While the Hurricanes may have missed out on Leavitt, speculation has been swirling around another potential quarterback target.

According to Gay, “The Hurricanes’ official NIL offer to Simpson started at $4 million and quickly ballooned to $5 million within minutes before reaching the current offer.”

Rumors suggest that a move to Miami for Simpson had been in the works for several days. The 23-year-old junior threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions this past year. He recently declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after receiving feedback indicating he would be a first-round pick.

However, a $6.5 million NIL offer may be too enticing for Simpson to pass up—especially considering that he would need to be drafted within the first seven picks to earn as much or more playing professionally (the salary slot for the No. 8 pick in the 2026 draft is $5.6 million).

Two years ago, the Hurricanes convinced Cam Ward to skip the draft and play for them another year. That decision paid off, as Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 draft. They also persuaded Carson Beck to forgo the draft and play another year of college football, and he’s since led Miami to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

“Simpson has already stated his intention to turn pro, but so did Cam Ward, right?” On3 reported. “With Sorsby and Leavitt—top options that aren’t heading Miami’s way—the team could make a big offer to try and get Simpson to reconsider and stay in college.”

As the 2026 season approaches, the Hurricanes continue to explore opportunities to secure a quarterback who can carry the program forward. Fans will be watching closely to see if Miami can pull off a surprise signing or rely on internal development to fill the void left by Beck’s eventual departure.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/miami-offers-ty-simpson-record-breaking-deal-after-missing-on-sam-leavitt-11348844

education, local news, missing persons

Body of missing CPS teacher recovered from Lake Michigan

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The body of a Chicago Public Schools teacher who had been missing for more than a week was pulled from Lake Michigan on Monday, authorities confirmed.

Police recovered the body of a woman from the water in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s South Side just before noon, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and school officials. The woman, identified as 53-year-old Linda Brown, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:53 p.m.

Brown was a special education teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport. She had been missing since January 3, Chicago police said. Since her disappearance, family and friends had issued public pleas for her safe return and organized their own search efforts, according to multiple reports.

In the initial missing persons alert, police stated that Brown was last seen near the 4500 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Days later, the alert was updated to say she was sighted in the 3500 block of South Lake Park Avenue, approximately half a mile from where her body was ultimately found.

Police noted Brown may have been in need of immediate medical attention at the time. On Monday, they updated the alert again to confirm that Brown had been located but did not provide additional details.

Robert Healy Elementary Principal Erin Kamradt informed the school community of Brown’s passing in an email. “Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time,” Kamradt wrote. “We know that this loss will raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school, especially our students.”

The school is collaborating with the Chicago Public Schools crisis management unit to offer grief counseling and support to students and staff. Additionally, the campus’ school-based mental health professionals will be available for students needing ongoing assistance.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” Kamradt said. “We will do everything we can to help our school community heal.”

Attempts to reach Brown’s family were unsuccessful as of the time of the report. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/12/missing-cps-teacher-lake-michigan/

economics, finance, government

Federal Reserve Chair Powell says DOJ has subpoenaed central bank, threatens criminal indictment

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By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press

**WASHINGTON (AP)** — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Sunday that the Department of Justice has served the central bank with subpoenas and threatened it with a criminal indictment over his testimony about the Fed’s building renovations.

The move represents an unprecedented escalation in President Donald Trump’s battle with the Fed, an independent agency he has repeatedly attacked for not cutting its key interest rate as quickly as Trump prefers.

The subpoena relates to Powell’s testimony before the Senate Banking Committee in June regarding the Fed’s $2.5 billion renovation of two office buildings, a project that Trump criticized as excessive this summer.

In a video statement, Powell called the threat of criminal charges “pretexts” to undermine the Fed’s independence when it comes to setting interest rates.

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.

The Justice Department, in a statement Sunday, said it cannot comment on any particular case but added that Attorney General Pam Bondi “has instructed her US Attorneys to prioritize investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office did not immediately respond to a text message and phone call seeking comment.

The potential indictment has already drawn concern from one Republican senator, who said he will oppose any future nominee to the central bank, including any replacement for Powell, until “this legal matter is fully resolved.”

“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” said North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the Banking Committee, which oversees Fed nominations.

“It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Eric Tucker, and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.
https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2026/01/11/federal-reserve-powell-subpoena/

general

Ant International Partners with Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol to Expand AI Capabilities

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SINGAPORE – Ant International is partnering with Google to launch its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a groundbreaking new open standard for agentic commerce.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260111092027/en/Ant-International-Partners-with-Google%E2%80%99s-Universal-Commerce-Protocol-to-Expand-AI-Capabilities/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-Q-tiwWZwkcswR1UZtV7eGe24xL9TZOyQUMS3J72mJlQ7fxFuNFTHSunhvli30RlBNXya2izy9YOgHlBiZQk2LOzmn6JePCpHPCiYGaEx4DL1Rq8pNwkf3AarimpDzQGuQ%3D%3D