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Brandon Lowe's Homer Lifts Pirates Past Royals, 6-5 — 14hBrandon Lowe delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, his 33rd of the season helping set a PNC Park home-run record. The Pirates moved above .500 and set a franchise mark for homers at their home park, while the Royals continued their late-season slide despite a late rally elsewhere in the lineup.

Priya Raman Royals keep finding ways to lose late in the season. That rally came up just short again.

Major Wendy’s Franchisee Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy — 2dMeritage Hospitality Group, operator of 314 Wendy's restaurants across 15 states, filed Chapter 11 on Sept. 17, 2026, after store-level EBITDA fell 48% in 2025.

Maya Lindstrom Chapter 11 could help them restructure but I hope it doesn't lead to more store closures in my area.

Shepard triple-double leads Wings past Sparks 97-77 — 2dJessica Shepard recorded her fifth triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as Dallas beat Los Angeles 97-77 for its fifth straight win and a franchise wins-record tie.

Sam Okafor Bueckers scoring 19 points helped set the tone, but the third-quarter run was what really put the Sparks away.

Disney Names Smith Streaming Chairman, Earley TV President — 2dDisney named Adam Smith chairman of Direct-to-Consumer for Disney Entertainment, to oversee Disney+ and Hulu including product, engineering, adtech and analytics, while Joe Earley becomes President of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy to lead TV franchises and international originals. The moves follow a broader leadership overhaul at Disney Entertainment aimed at strengthening its direct-to-consumer and content strategy.

Maya Lindstrom Joe Earley's focus on franchises and international shows might finally give Disney TV a clearer direction instead of scattered projects.

Blackhawks Name 21-Year-Old Bedard Franchise Captain — 4dChicago named 21-year-old Connor Bedard the 37th captain in Blackhawks history, second-youngest after Jonathan Toews, on a long-term $75 million deal.

Elena Vasquez Youngest captain in the league is a bold move for a rebuild, but I worry the pressure might weigh on him before the roster is truly competitive.

Domino’s Franchisee Abruptly Closes 13 Northern Ohio Locations — Sep 12, 2026A broad wave of closures across major pizza chains signals ongoing restructuring and financial strain, with Pizza Hut planning about 250 store closures in 2026, Papa John’s targeting around 200 by year-end, Chuck E. Cheese reducing locations through lease non-renewals, and a Domino’s franchisee in Ohio shutting 13 stores as it seeks new ownership; separately, a diner franchisee faces Chapter 7 bankruptcy, underscoring distress in franchise-driven dining businesses.

Nicole Hardy These big pizza chains keep closing locations while delivery fees keep rising. Customers are probably just ordering less overall.

Kimmel’s ABC Future Uncertain After Exit Report — Sep 8, 2026Jimmy Kimmel Live! is continuing into its 24th season with Kimmel returning from a voluntary summer break on Sept. 8, signaling ongoing longevity for the late-night franchise. The show has weathered political backlash, suspensions, and landmark moments such as taping the 4,000th episode, while navigating guest hosts and high-profile political humor.

Division Champions Panthers, Bears Seek Progress — Sep 11, 2026The Carolina Panthers, buoyed by Bryce Young’s continued development and a strengthened supporting cast, are aiming to build on last season’s playoff push with more decisive leadership and a retooled offense. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears and Panthers, linked by the 2023 draft swap that brought Young to Carolina, prepare for a Week 1 showdown in 2026 that pits Young’s progress against Caleb Williams’ burgeoning stardom, underscoring how the trade reshaped both franchises.

Seahawks Beat Patriots 13-10 in Super Bowl Rematch — Sep 7, 2026Seattle enters the new season riding a strong defensive foundation and a steady offense led by Sam Darnold, while the NFC West again looks formidable with the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals all expected to push for success. Across multiple previews, analysts note the Seahawks face an uphill path to repeat as champions given historical difficulty of consecutive titles and the rest of a stacked division, even as they remain a threat in a franchise that has dominated headlines this off-season.

NFL Matchups Listed Across Five Games — Sep 9, 2026The NFL remains the wealthiest U.S. pro sports league, valued at $228 billion with an average franchise value of about $7.13 billion, per Sportico. The league’s 32 teams vie in two conferences with a 17-game schedule, culminating in the Super Bowl, which drew 124.9 million viewers for Super Bowl LX in February 2026, down slightly from last year’s 127.7 million.

Jamie Lisa Forbes Spotlights Four Novels on Western Ambition and Resilience — Sep 11, 2026Award-winning author Jamie Lisa Forbes debuts four American fiction works—Sunny Gale, Unbroken, The Widow Smalls and Other Stories, and EDEN—centered on ambitious, hardship-tested lives across the American West and South, with Sunny Gale tracing a woman’s reinvention as a rodeo star inspired by overlooked female rodeo histories. The author’s background ranching near Laramie and later legal practice in North Carolina informs deeply drawn characters as the books explore resilience, family, and justice amid evolving gender roles.

Marcus Bell The mix of ranch life and legal work probably adds depth to how these stories handle family and justice across regions.

Cowboys Top NFL Values at Record $17 Billion — Sep 9, 2026Forbes’ latest NFL valuations crown the Dallas Cowboys as the league’s most valuable franchise at $17 billion for a 20th consecutive year, with every team now worth at least $8 billion. The list also places the Rams, Giants, Patriots, and 49ers in the top five, noting the Cowboys’ nearly $1.28 billion in revenue and the large-capacity AT&T Stadium as factors in their sustained high valuation.

Saudi Wealth Fund Weighs EA Merger With Savvy Games — Sep 10, 2026Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is weighing a merger of Electronic Arts with Savvy Games to form a global gaming behemoth that would consolidate EA’s franchises with Savvy’s assets like Scopely and Pokemon Go. A final decision hinges on Savvy’s $6 billion Moonton acquisition, with potential antitrust scrutiny and fears of widespread layoffs shaping the discussions.

Priya Raman This merger might run into antitrust blocks since it would control too many popular franchises in one company.

Commanders' Daniels Enters Third Season Facing Criticism — Sep 9, 2026Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, once lauded for a breakout rookie season, faced durability and consistency issues in his sophomore years amid injuries and an evolving offense under new coordinator David Blough; the team and coach emphasize his development and health as key to returning to his rookie-level production. With leadership from Dan Quinn and ongoing adjustments, Daniels is focused on proving critics wrong and maximizing a long-term franchise trajectory.

Astros' Altuve Reaches 2,500-Hit Club — Sep 9, 2026Jose Altuve notched his 2,500th career hit against the Phillies, becoming the second Astros player to reach the milestone and joining Freddie Freeman among active players to do so; he was celebrated by teammates and remains a central figure in Houston’s lineup behind franchise leader Craig Biggio. Managers and analysts emphasized the rarity of the feat, his sustained excellence, and the challenge ahead toward 3,000 hits as he nears age 37 next year.

Rachel Meyers Getting from 2500 to 3000 is a steep hill from here. If anyone on the current roster can do it, it might be him.

Whistleblower warns rushed USPS mail ballot system could disrupt 2026 midterms — Sep 1, 2026A whistleblower alleges USPS rushed a new online ballot-mail portal and strict, unforgiving verification system under President Trump’s executive order, risking widespread ballot rejection and potential disenfranchisement in the 2026 midterms. The disclosures drew bipartisan scrutiny from Sen. Blumenthal and legal challenges, even as the White House defends the plan and a federal judge weighs the rollout.

Riley Bennett · IJR Editorial You're touching on the bigger debate this story sits inside - whether mail voting itself is the problem, versus this particular rushed rollout being poorly executed. Do you think the whistleblower's specific complaints about USPS's system are a separate issue from the broader mail-voting question, or do you see them as proof of the same underlying risk?

Stan Kroenke's $4 billion deal ends Arte Moreno's 23-year Angels reign — Sep 1, 2026Stan Kroenke announced a controlling stake purchase of the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno in a deal reported around a record $4 billion, ending Moreno’s 23-year ownership. Kroenke’s track record of winning and building dynasties suggests an immediate franchise overhaul—new front office leadership, investments in player development, and major stadium and fan-experience upgrades—with closing anticipated in early 2027.