The Ledger

When the 2025 boys cross country season ended, Geneva Classical’s Oliver Dempsey was the top runner, George Jenkins’ Colin Wagner was the No. 2 runner, and five of the top 10 runners were seniors. With Dempsey and Wagner have graduated, Lake Wales senior Gabriel Harris enters the season as the top returning boys runner in the county.

Americans prefer to set their thermostats cold throughout the day Aug. 30, 2026, 7:05 p.m. ET While the hottest days of summer appear to be largely behind, a heat dome that roiled the West appears to be aiming for the Mississippi Valley, the mid-Atlantic and the Southeast, heading into Labor Day weekend, according to forecasters. AccuWeather forecasts that daytime highs in those regions will hit as much as 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit above historical averages through the opening days of September.

The U.S. struck Iran for the first time since late July, hitting launchers on Larak Island on Aug. 30, U.S. officials confirmed to USA TODAY in a statement. Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command spokesperson, said in the statement the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz and that two launchers were struck.

The death toll following a glacier collapse that unleashed a catastrophic mudslide across the Himalayas neared 800 people, authorities said on Aug. 30, as thousands of people remain missing. Nepal's disaster authority said 781 people had died, with 2,502 missing and Chinese officials added that 16 people had died with 546 missing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Nepalese counterpart during an Aug.

Aug. 30, 2026, 12:23 p.m. ET TCU's failures on fourth down influenced loss to North Carolina. The bigger takeaway from TCU's faceplant in Ireland. It misses Josh Hoover more than Sonny Dykes let on. Credit Bill Belichick for win, but Virginia takes top prize in ACC after Week 0. Sonny Dykes (and not Bill Belichick) wears the dunce cap. That’s your Week 0 headline.

Robotic pool cleaners automate the process of skimming leaves, bugs, and other debris from the water's surface. Betta's solar-powered robotic skimmers are on sale during USA TODAY Shopping's Fall Reset event. These devices operate continuously using solar power and a rechargeable battery, even on overcast days. Having a pool sounds like a dream until it's time to clean it.

PALO ALTO, CA ― A perfect day to begin a coaching career with a win. Stanford head coach Tavita Pritchard, who was hired after the 2025 season, began his coaching career with the Cardinal at 1-0 following his team's resilient, 37-27, win against Hawai'i at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29. Stanford players sported a striped, cultural tribal design down the middle of their helmets, with red facemasks, on a beautiful, 72-degree day marked as Pacific Island Heritage Celebration.

Aug. 30, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET The 2026 PGA Tour season comes down to 18 holes at East Lake Golf Club. The final round of the Tour Championship promises to be a good one. Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland, leaders heading into the third round, will be the final pairing again on the final day in Atlanta. Seeking his second FedEx Cup after winning the grand prize in 2023, Hovland birdied the last two holes in Round 3 to take a one-shot lead.

Aug. 30, 2026, 7:04 a.m. ET The Houston Astros (68-68) and New York Mets (61-75) complete their 3-game series Sunday at Citi Field in New York, New York. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET (NBC / Peacock). Let's analyze MLB odds around the Astros vs. Mets odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Aug. 30, 2026, 5:31 a.m. ET Bill Belichick and North Carolina secured a needed 15-10 victory over TCU after a tumultuous offseason. UNC's defense-first approach may be its blueprint for success against a difficult upcoming schedule. TCU struggled offensively, hampered by penalties, poor third-down conversions, and subpar quarterback play. Bill Belichick needed this one.