Kevin O'Brien
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Articles by Kevin O'Brien
Nickel mining and the Illinois River: What the Watershed Council knows
I have been getting the same question a lot lately, usually in a parking lot. What does the Watershed Council think about the nickel claims? Here is the honest answer. First: What we are. The Illinois Valley Watershed Council is not a regulatory agency. We cannot permit anything, deny anything or tell anyone what to do on their land. A good many people assume otherwise, and it matters. People who know we hold no authority…
Jeremy Peña Homers Twice in Astros Rout – Fantasy Hitting Recap 9/26/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. The Houston Astros are in a dogfight in the American League West with the Texas Rangers, their interstate rival. Granted, this isn’t a dogfight between two big St. Bernards or German Shepherds. Rather, it’s like a battle between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuaha, as both teams are under .500 at 80-81.
A Healthy Workplace Culture Requires Intentional Leadership
The decisions leaders make every day determine whether their organization grows stronger or drifts toward dysfunction. Every leader wants a healthy culture. Few realize that the Law of Organizational Entropy governs organizations: left unattended, an organization’s culture naturally drifts toward disorder. Healthy cultures require leaders who reinforce the beliefs, behaviors, and standards they want repeated. One of the greatest misconceptions in business is that culture is something you have.
August Trade Secrets Litigation Brief: Verdict Against Boeing Upheld, Plus Updates in Apple, NASCAR Disputes
Trade secret litigation often turns on fast-moving disputes over information, competition, and control. Each month, we highlight notable rulings, verdicts, and enforcement actions shaping trade secret risk and litigation outcomes.
Angel Martinez Homers Twice in Guards Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 9/19
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. The Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox are going back and forth at it in the AL Central like a championship prize fight. After beating the White Sox in a series in Cleveland and winning four in a row, the Guardians lead the AL Central by one game over the South Siders.
Parade may return to Stratford in 2027
With this past summer’s Street of Dreams car show successfully expanding into a multi-faceted event with live music and vendors, talk of bringing back an annual parade has now reached the village bo...
Arroyo Collects First MLB Home Run in M’s Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 9/12/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. The Mariners teed off on Gage Jump and the Athletics pitching staff on Saturday in Sacramento, collecting 19 runs, including five home runs. J.P. Crawford, Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, and Cole Young were all familiar Mariners names who had home runs in their blowout victory.
Koss Homers Twice In Giants Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 9/5/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. With the San Francisco Giants having a record of 59-84, they have the opportunity to try things out with players who have something to prove. Christian Koss is getting that opportunity right now in San Francisco, especially with regular shortstop Willy Adames currently on the IL. The 28-year-old infielder isn’t a highly-rated prospect by any means.
Crow-Armstrong Homers Three Times in Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 8/29
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. It’s not going to be easy for Pete Crow-Armstrong to dethrone Shohei Ohtani as NL MVP. However, performances like Saturday’s could help him clinch his first MVP trophy. In a 17-5 Cubs victory over the Reds, Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-6 with 3 home runs, four runs scored, and six RBI. Today’s big day increased his home run total to 36, and he is now hitting .282 with a .944 OPS in 608 plate appearances.
Fantasy Tennis Expert U.S. Open Draft Strategies and Sleepers
Five RotoWire tennis experts give their takes on their fantasy tennis snake draft strategies, sleepers and value picks for the U.S. Open after participating in a six-team fantasy tennis draft on the Drop Shot. The team with second pick was unable to draft due to a scheduling conflict and auto-drafted. This U.S. Open fantasy tennis draft took place Tuesday night, prior to the draw coming out. Each team has 10 roster spots and will start eight players for the U.S. Open.
Robert Homers Twice in South Side Return – Fantasy Hitting Recap 8/22/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. It hasn’t been quite the first year in Queens for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. After being traded from the White Sox to the Mets this offseason in exchange for utility player Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Truman Pauley, Robert has been limited by a lumbar spine disc herniation. That injury not only landed him on the 60-Day IL, but has limited him to just 51 games this season.
Baez Homers Three Times in MLB Debut – Fantasy Hitting Recap 8/15/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. With the St. Louis Cardinals reeling after the All-Star Break, the promotion of Joshua Baez makes sense as an effort to give the club one last jolt toward the finish line. After all, in 461 plate appearances in Triple-A Memphis, Baez hit 34 home runs and posted a .901 OPS, all while showing prodigious power, even in a typically hitter-friendly Triple-A environment.
Caglianone Hits Two Homers in Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 8/8/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Jac of All Trades It’s been quite the sophomore campaign for Royals slugger Jac Caglianone. The 6th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft made his rookie debut a year ago to lackluster results. In 232 plate appearances, he hit .157 with a .532 OPS and seven home runs. It was disappointing to see, especially considering the prodigious power numbers he produced at the University of Florida and in the Royals’ Minor League system in 2025.
A few good people at the table will help protect fish, water quality
The Illinois River at McCaleb Ranch. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Valley Watershed Council) If you’ve lived in the Valley for any length of time, you’ve probably crossed paths with one of our rivers or creeks: gone swimming or waded in it, walked a dog beside it, or watched it come up over its banks in a wet winter. The water that runs through the Illinois Valley is the thread that ties this place together, and caring for it is the whole reason the Illinois Valley Watershed Council exists.
Your Best Marketing is on Main Street
How building community trust through print and digital channels drives long-term growth. Every day, it seems the business world is consumed by the latest AI breakthrough, automation, or the next billion-dollar technology company. Yet some of the most remarkable businesses in America aren’t being built in Silicon Valley. They’re being built on Main Street.
Chelsea Green Wins Interim WWE Women’s Championship in SummerSlam Ladder Match
Canadian pro-wrestler Chelsea Green attends Netflix's "WWE Monday Night RAW" premiere at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP) Chelsea Green won a five-woman ladder match at WWE SummerSlam on Sunday to become the new Interim WWE Women's Champion. WWE lists the title's official name as the Interim WWE Women's Championship, and the bout as an Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match, per WWE's official match page.
Bolte Homers And Has Three Hits – Fantasy Hitting Recap 8/2/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games Bolte of Lightning It was a July to forget for rookie Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte. After hitting .286 with a .761 OPS in 105 plate appearances in June, the 22-year-old rookie stumbled in the past month. He hit .164 with a .467 OPS in 75 plate appearances. In 39 plate appearances in the second half, he is hitting .176 with a .469 OPS.
Perez Sets Royals Franchise HR Record – Fantasy Hitting Recap 7/25/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Perez Prestige It hasn’t quite been the most productive season for Royals catcher Salvador Perez. In 412 plate appearances, Perez is hitting .210 with a .624 OPS. His batting average is 26 points down from a season ago, and his OPS is 106 points down as well. On a plus note, he still has been hitting a decent number of home runs, with No. 15 coming on Saturday in Detroit.
Why Lionel Messi Will Miss the 2026 MLS All-Star Game
Lionel Messi is expected to miss the 2026 MLS All-Star Game while observing a 21-day recovery period following Argentina's run to the World Cup final. The Inter Miami star played through the final weekend of the tournament as Argentina finished runner-up to Spain. The extended rest period is designed to give players time to recover physically and mentally after a demanding international competition.
Vozinha and Erling Haaland Named to Fan-Voted World Cup Dream Team
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland have been selected for the fan-voted FIFA World Cup Dream Team following their countries' memorable runs at the 2026 tournament. Vozinha emerged as one of the most unexpected selections after receiving 39.6% of the goalkeeper vote. The 40-year-old finished ahead of Spain's Unai Simón, who received the tournament's Golden Glove award.
Rumfield Collects Four Hits in Rockies Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 7/18
Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Rumfield Punch It may be time for fantasy baseball fans to talk about TJ Rumfield, who’s becoming the next big Rockies success story. On Saturday, the Colorado first baseman had another banner day, going four-for-five with a home run, run scored, and four RBI. His home run was his 13th of the year, and he is now hitting .302 with an .869 OPS in 393 plate appearances.
When 2 Does Not Become 1: Federal Circuit Stresses the Importance of Accuracy in Provisional Applications
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently issued its decision in Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Pfizer, Inc., No. 2025-1427 (Fed. Cir. June 23, 2026) holding that Enanta’s U.S. patent was not entitled to the filing date of an earlier-filed provisional application because the provisional did not provide adequate written description support for the later-claimed subject matter.
Valdez Homers Twice for Pirates – Fantasy Hitting Recap 7/11/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Esmerlyn Magic It’s been one hot debut for Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez. In his first 100 plate appearances, the 22-year-old is hitting .311 with a 1.092 OPS. That includes 10 home runs, 19 runs scored, and 26 RBI. Valdez does strike out (35.9% K%) and whiff (36.1% whiff%) a lot, but the power and barrels (28% barrel rate) have been insane.
June Trade Secrets Litigation Brief: OpenAI Wins Again, Edelman Falls Short, Fintech and Fleet Tech Competitors Clash
Trade secret litigation often turns on fast-moving disputes over information, competition, and control. Each month, we highlight notable rulings, verdicts, and enforcement actions shaping trade secret risk and litigation outcomes.
Bell Homers Twice in Yankees Stadium – Fantasy Hitting Recap 7/4
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Josh, I Didn’t Hear No Bell On the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the 96th birthday of deceased Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins played spoiler at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Twins ambushed the Yankees in the Bronx, scoring five runs off starter Brendan Beck and eventually tacked on six more in an 11-4 victory.
Goodman Hits Three Homers for Rockies – Fantasy Hitting Recap 6/27
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. A Few Goodman It seemed like it would be tough for Colorado’s Hunter Goodman to repeat his 2025 numbers in 2026. Yes, the power has always been prodigious. However, he struck out 26.3% of the time, whiffed 32% of the time, chased 36.7% of the time, and only walked 5.7% of the time. Thus, it seemed unlikely that he would match his 31-HR, .278 average, and .843 OPS from a season ago.
EuroLeague Basketball 2026 Transfer Tracker
Stay up to date with official 2026-27 EuroLeague basketball transfers and transactions for all 20 teams -- all offseason long! Looking for the latest EuroLeague news? Follow us on X via @RotoWireEuro! Wondering where every player will slot in for the 2026-27 EuroLeague season? Check out RotoWire's EuroLeague Basketball Depth Charts!
Schwarber Homers Three Times – Fantasy Hitting Recap 6/20
Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Schwarber-Shop Trio After hitting 56 homers a year ago, there was some talk that Kyle Schwarber deserved the NL MVP due to his impact on the Philadelphia Phillies‘ lineup. He lost, of course, to Shohei Ohtani (not surprising), but he still garnered 260 points in the voting process, which was the second-most. This year, after signing a new multi-year contract in the offseason, it’s been more of the same from Schwarber in 2026.
Taylor Has Three Hits and Home Run for Padres – Fantasy Hitting Recap 6/13
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Taylor Made in San Diego Even though the Padres are 36-33 after Saturday’s win, they are a team desperately searching for offensive answers. As of Saturday, they rank 30th in batting average, OBP, OPS, and runs scored. Their top four hitters in the batting order, Fernando Tatis Jr. Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts, all have OPS marks under .700.
May Trade Secrets Litigation Brief: Fed. Circuit Reversal on Damages, Insulin Pump Verdict Thrown Out, Disney's Fee Award, and More
Trade secret litigation often turns on fast-moving disputes over information, competition, and control. Each month, we highlight notable rulings, verdicts, and enforcement actions shaping trade secret risk and litigation outcomes. Federal Circuit Reverses District Judge for Excluding Unjust Enrichment Damages Theory in Versata v.
Wade Has Homer and Three RBIs in Astros Win- Fantasy Hitting Recap 6/6/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. The Count of LaMonte Cristo It was not the best start to the season for LaMonte Wade Jr., who began the year with the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A organization of the Chicago White Sox. The primary reason Wade began the year in Triple-A rather than with a big league club was his brutal campaign in 2025.
Golf One and Done Pool Expert Picks: the Memorial Tournament
Signature Events officially debuted in 2024, but the Memorial Tournament was "signature" long before. This year's event will be the 50th time this great tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus has been played. It has always been a premier stop on the PGA Tour schedule that brings all the best players to Muirfield Village Golf Club. The Memorial is also a significant marker on the One-and-Done schedule.
Irish Interest in Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Continues to Grow, According to Cork Dental Experts
Interest in non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments continues to grow as more adults seek subtle, natural-looking ways to refresh their appearance Many patients are not looking to change who they are. They simply want to look as confident and energetic as they feel.
Mangum Hits First Homer of Year in Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/30/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Mangum, P.I. Outfielder Jake Mangum received little fanfare when he was included by Tampa Bay in the Brandon Lowe trade this offseason. Most of the attention was on Lowe, which made sense given the resumes. Lowe was a two-time All-Star with the Rays who hit 30+ home runs in a season twice (2021 and 2025).
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Final Four - Final
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Olympiacos Piraeus vs.
Walker Has Three-Hit Day in Astros Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/23
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Keep Calm and Walker-on A year ago, it seemed like the Astros made a huge mistake by acquiring Christian Walker. By the end of June, he had 10 home runs and was hitting .213 with a .635 OPS. Many fantasy managers thought that the move to the more hitter-friendly Daikin Park would benefit him. Unfortunately, he seemed nowhere close to the slugger that he once was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Spring Fashion Coats Fashion Trends 2026
Spring Fashion Coats Fashion Trends 2026 holds a unique place in the world of style. They arrive at the intersection of practicality and reinvention, offering protection from unpredictable weather while signaling the transition from winter’s heaviness to the lighter, brighter moods of spring. More than any other seasonal garment, the spring coat has the ability to transform an outfit instantly.
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Final Four - Semifinals
Sasha Vezenkov will suit up Friday for Olympiacos. EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Status Check OLY FBB Sasha Vezenkov Jilson Bango Keenan Evans Game Time: 17:00 CET / 11:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Olympiacos Piraeus -4.5 Total: 162.5 Valencia Basket vs.
Schmitt Homers Twice in Rivalry Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/16/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Schmitt’s Creek The San Francisco Giants‘ offense has not been good this year, to put it kindly. They rank 28th in home runs, 29th in OPS, and 30th in OBP and runs scored. Safe to say, it’s not quite the start new manager Tony Vitello imagined when he came over from the University of Tennessee this offseason.
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 5
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens at Valencia Basket Status Check PAO VBC Kostas Sloukas Braxton Key Josep Puerto Xabi Lopez-Arostegui Game Time: 21:00 CET / 3:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Valencia Basket -2.5 The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to –...
EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Picks: Playoffs - Game 5
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Game 5. Before the Playoffs started, many pundits expected this series to be close, but with every win so far being claimed by the away team, Game 2 ending on a game-winner and the rising tension and exchanges between the head coaches, things are on another level heading into Wednesday's win-or-go-home contest.
April Trade Secrets Litigation Brief: AI Cardiology Dispute, Aviation Engineer’s Guilty Plea, and Insurance Exec Accused of Data Theft
Trade secret litigation often turns on fast-moving disputes over information, competition, and control. Each month, we highlight notable rulings, verdicts, and enforcement actions shaping trade secret risk and litigation outcomes.
Bohm Hits Two Bombs in Phillies Win – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/9/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. It hasn’t exactly been an ideal start to the 2026 season for Phillie third baseman Alec Bohm. Back in March, Bohm sued his parents for apparent misuse of his funds. The case has carried over into the regular season, with his parents apparently living in a vehicle during the legal dispute, according to a recent Forbes report.
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 4 - Friday
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul at Zalgiris Kaunas Status Check FBB ZAL Jilson Bango None Game Time: 19:00 CET / 1:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Zalgiris Kaunas -1.5 Total: 161.5 Valencia Basket at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens Status Check VBC PAO Omari Moore Kostas Sloukas Josep Puerto Xabi Lopez-Arostegui...
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 4 - Thursday
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Real Madrid at Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Status Check RMB HTA Walter Tavares Antonio Blakeney Collin Malcolm Yam Madar Tomer Ginat Tyler Ennis Guy Palatin Itay Segev Game Time: 20:00 CET / 2:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Real Madrid -1.5 The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests...
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 3 - Wednesday
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul at Zalgiris Kaunas Status Check FBB ZAL Jilson Bango None Game Time: 19:00 CET / 1:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Zalgiris Kaunas -1.5 Total: 161.5 Valencia Basket at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens Status Check VBC PAO Xabi Lopez-Arostegui Kostas Sloukas Game Time: 20:15 CET /...
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 3 - Tuesday
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Real Madrid at Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Status Check RMB HTA Walter Tavares Collin Malcolm Yam Madar Tomer Ginat Tyler Ennis Guy Palatin Itay Segev Game Time: 18:00 CET / 12:00 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv -1.5 Total: 173.5 Olympiacos Piraeus at AS Monaco Status Check OLY ASM Keenan...
Seiya Suzuki Goes Yard With Three RBI – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/4/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. Seiya Later, Gator Seiya Suzuki didn’t exactly have the most ideal start to 2026. First, due to a right knee sprain suffered on March 14th in the World Baseball Classic, he started the season on the IL. As a result, he’s only had 96 plate appearances this season. However, even though he dealt with an injury to begin the year, Suzuki has been on fire since returning to the field for the Cubs.
JJ Bleday Goes Deep for Reds- Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/2/26
+ Breaking down notable hitting performances from yesterday’s games. All in a Day’s Bleday It’s been a rollercoaster of a career so far for outfielder JJ Bleday. The fourth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt, Bleday seemed to be turning a corner in 2024. In 642 plate appearances that season with the Athletics, he hit 20 home runs and posted a .761 OPS in the final season in the Oakland Coliseum.
EuroLeague Basketball Primer: Playoffs - Game 2 - Friday
Check back before tip-off! EuroLeague Betting Odds EuroLeague Starting Lineups EuroLeague Injury Report EuroLeague Team Stats Opponent Averages Team Trends News Notifications - @RotoWireEuro Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv at Real Madrid Status Check HTA RMB Elijah Bryant Walter Tavares Tomer Ginat Tyler Ennis Game Time: 20:45 CET / 2:45 pm ET TV: EuroLeague TV Spread: Real Madrid -6.5 The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have...
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