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"For more than 153 years, the press workers of The Boston Globe have overcome the elements, technical snafus, and global pandemics to print a daily newspaper," the paper said inan article on its website. "But in an unprecedented decision, executives determined that the conditions during Monday's blizzard made it impossible to print and deliver a paper Tuesday morning."

The Globe said print subscribers will get Tuesday's paper delivered on Wednesday along with Wednesday's edition.

"We don't take the decision lightly," the article quotes Boston Globe Media Vice President of Print Operations Josh Russell as saying. "We're not confident that even if we got a crew in tonight, that we could get the papers on our trucks safely. We weren't confident that that last mile would be doable."

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The storm also cut deeply into Monday's deliveries: Only 25 percent of papers reached subscribers, the Globe said.

Snow and winds prevented staff from safely getting to the Globe printing plant to print Tuesday's paper, the newspaper said in the article. Parts of Massachusetts' Bristol County, where the Globe's printing press in Taunton is located, had recorded 32 inches of snow by Monday night, the National Weather Service said.Readers are much less reliant on newsprint for their news in today's internet age. A 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center found that only 7% of U.S. adults often got their news from printed newspapers or magazines. That's compared to 56% who said they often got their news from a smartphone, computer or tablet.Tuesday marks the first time Globe management has called off the newspaper's daily production since its 1872 founding. Labor strikes halted printing a few times in the 1950s and '60s.The Globe said it went to press during another record-setting blizzard nearly five decades ago, when it printed a few thousands copies of a Feb. 7, 1978, edition. Few papers actually made it to readers, however, because piles of snow prevented delivery trucks from getting farther than a mile or two from its building.Monday's blizzard set snowfall records in nearby Rhode Island, where the T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick received nearly 38 inches, breaking a 1978 record.

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Police said they had responded to an "alleged ​security incident", ​without ​giving more ‌details on the nature of the incident.

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"A thorough search of a protection establishment was undertaken and ‌nothing suspicious ​was located. There ​is ​no current threat ‌to the community ​or ​public safety," an Australian Federal Police spokesperson ​said ‌in a statement.

(Reporting by ​Praveen Menon; Editing by ​Andrew Heavens)

Feb 24 (Reuters) - A Utah judge is expected to rule on Tuesday on whether to disqualify prosecutors from the trial of the man ‌accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk because a daughter of a senior ‌prosecutor witnessed the killing.

This month, District Court Judge Tony Graf held a hearing on the challenge by defense lawyers ​for Tyler Robinson, who contend that prosecutors from the Utah County Attorney's Office should be disqualified from the case.

Robinson's defense attorneys noted that the 18-year-old daughter of a senior prosecutor witnessed the September 10 murder. They said the prosecutors' decision to seek the death penalty less ‌than a week later showed a "strong ⁠emotional reaction" from Chad Grunander, a deputy attorney whose daughter alerted him to the murder in a string of text messages.

Grunander testified that ⁠his daughter's presence at the shooting did not play any role in his office's move to seek the death penalty. He said the decision was made after he and other prosecutors ​decided they ​had sufficient evidence against Robinson.

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"We felt there's simply ​no conflict here," Grunander told the ‌Provo, Utah, court during a February 3 hearing.

There has been no discussion in court or filings of who would prosecute the case if the judge rules to disqualify Grunander's team. Defense lawyers have previously requested that the Utah state attorney general's office answer their conflict of interest allegations, not the Utah County Attorney's Office.

Robinson, 22, was studying to be ‌an electrician. He is accused of firing a ​single round from a rooftop that struck down Kirk ​as he debated students at Utah ​Valley University in Orem during a tour of U.S. colleges.

Kirk was credited ‌with mobilizing young voters who helped President ​Donald Trump win the ​2024 election. His assassination on stage in front of hundreds of onlookers was a stunning public display of mounting political violence in the U.S.

Robinson is charged ​with aggravated murder, witness tampering ‌and obstruction of justice. He will not enter a plea until after a ​preliminary hearing, tentatively scheduled for mid-May.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; ​editing by Donna Bryson and David Gregorio)

Notably, the spring football league – now in its third season as a unified front since the USFL-XFL merger – is introducing a four-point field goal for its teams and will also ban punts from inside the opponents' 50-yard line.

The rule changes come as the league continues to evaluate ways to make its on-field product exciting without straying too far from the basic rules of football, as UFL head of officiating Dean Blandino told USA TODAY Sports in a recent phone interview.

"We want to create an exciting game. We want good flow. We want big plays. We want to promote scoring," Blandino said.

The UFL believes the four-point field goal attempt, and its other rule changes, fit perfectly into that mission.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

UFL introduces four-point field goal

The genesis of the UFL's four-point field goal rule was relatively simple. The league sought to provide a larger reward for kickers attempting riskier, longer-distance field goals.

"A 65-yard field goal is a lot harder than a 35-yard field goal," Blandino explained. "So, why should they be the same amount of points?"

The UFL set the line of demarcation at the 60-yard line. Anything from that distance or beyond will be worth four points; anything inside of it will be worth the traditional three.

Blandino believes the 60-yard range will be a realistic target for UFL kickers. He noted kickers have improved considerably from long distance in recent seasons, referencing that NFL kickers made 12 of their 22 attempts from 60-plus yards during the 2025 NFL campaign.

Blandino also brought upCam Little's record-breaking 68-yard field goalin 2025 and the success of spring-league alumsBrandon AubreyandJake Batesas reasons to be bullish about the prospect of the four-point field goal.

"These guys have become incredible players in the NFL," Blandino said. "So, how can we highlight what they've accomplished and promote scoring?"

Blandino also expressed excitement about seeing the strategy coaches employ while considering the four-point field goal throughout the 2026 UFL season.

"We think this is going to create some interesting strategy decisions for coaches," Blandino said. "Late in the game, you're down three, you've got 30 seconds and one timeout. Do you play to tie the game, or do you play to win the game with a four-point field goal? It's going to be really, really exciting."

"It's going to be really interesting the first time you have a third-and-long in 58-yard field goal range," he later added. "Do I take a knee and lose two yards to get to 60? There's going to be some fascinating strategic decisions and some things done that I think fans are going to go, 'Wow, that's different. That's kind of cool.' And I think that's going to keep people engaged."

That's why Blandino believes the four-point field goal is "going to really be a great part" of the UFL moving forward. It fits the league's vision of finding innovative rule changes that aren't simply gimmicks.

"We just want to continue to innovate but also maintain that foundation and the integrity of the game of football," Blandino said. "These rules are not about, oh, what can we do that's going to get a pop or it's going to be gimmicky, right? It's football. It's the game we all love, and we don't want to stray too far away from that."

UFL bans punting inside opponents' 50-yard line

Blandino's excitement about the four-point field goal was bolstered by another new UFL rule. The league will no longer allow teams to punt once they cross the opponents' 50-yard line – unless it's after the two-minute warning in either half.

Blandino explained the rule was instituted to generate more excitement and potential scoring opportunities. He also pointed out its mission aligned with the NFL's general trend of decreased punting and increasing fourth-down conversion attempts.

"The number of punts inside the 50 are down significantly anyway," Blandino said. "Most teams are going for it."

The key point in the UFL's punting rule is that once the ball crosses the midfield stripe, it cannot be punted, regardless of whether the team on offense loses yards. This prevents teams from taking intentional penalties to manipulate the field on fourth down to get into position to punt.

Blandino and the UFL understand that could create some difficult fourth-and-long situations for teams where punting isn't an option. That's why the league didn't want the rule to apply after the two-minute warning.

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That said, Blandino acknowledged the UFL could adjust the rule midseason if any issues arise relating to it.

"We want to see how it goes, and that's what's great about the UFL and our process," Blandino said of the rule. "There's a lot of thought [and] effort that goes into it, but if we get to Week 5 and say, OK, this is an issue, we can adjust."

But as currently constructed, Blandino believes the UFL's ban of punts from inside opponent territory will result in more opportunities for long field-goal attempts.

"We're going to see more 60-yard field goal attempts because you add the extra point, you add the no punts," Blandino said.

Those opportunities are why Blandino believes there's "no question" the league will be able to continue attracting high-end kicker talent – an area in which it has enjoyed great success throughout its existence.

UFL adopts NCAA catch rule

The UFL is also going to use the college catch rule for its 2026 season. That means pass-catchers will only need to get one foot in bounds to complete a catch.

What went into the decision to roll with that catch rule? It's all about the UFL's quest to "promote exciting plays," as Blandino detailed.

"There are so many plays that you watch in the college game or in the UFL that if the receiver had to get both feet in, it's an incomplete pass," Blandino said.

Blandino went on to specifically referenceFernando Mendoza's 7-yard game-winning pass to Omar Cooper Jr.in Indiana's 27-24 win over Penn State as a play that wouldn't have counted under the NFL's version of the catch rule.

"That's an incomplete pass if you have to get both feet down," Blandino said, "and it's one of the iconic plays from the college football season."

By keeping the one-foot rule, the UFL will leave the door ajar for more big-time plays. Blandino also opined the college version of the rule is both safer and easier to officiate for all involved.

"From a safety perspective, it is a safer play in terms of the receiver just having to get one foot down," Blandino said. "Now, they can start to protect themselves earlier in that process. And it's an easier play to officiate. So, all those factors considered, that's why we went in that direction."

UFL to continue showing inside look at officiating

The UFL has been among the pioneers in officiating transparency, as the league has offered a glimpse into the replay room throughout its existence. Blandino confirmed the UFL would continue to offer such coverage to enhance its broadcasts.

"We really love what we've done with the transparency. We want to continue to highlight that on our broadcast," Blandino said. "And we do feel like the other leagues and conferences have taken notice."

Notably, the ACC offered a glimpse into its replay room during some of their college football broadcasts during the 2025 season. Blandino noted the ACC is planning to "expand that" and that the Big 12 "is talking about" implementing a similar system.

Blandino believes such transparency is a great way to engage with fans and remove any potential consternation about controversial calls by at least shedding a light on the process.

"The frustrating thing for fans, and this is the feedback we've always received, is [that] a call is made, and they don't get the why," Blandino explained. "Sometimes, if it is something they don't agree with, then you start to go down a path of conspiracy theories and all these other things."

"If you just get a chance to watch and listen, the conspiracy stuff goes away," he added. "You might not always agree at the end of the day, but at least you understand, OK, this is why they made the decision. These are the steps, this was the conversation."

More:Football fans and referees have a fractured relationship. The UFL is trying to mend it.

Blandino – who serves as a rules analyst during Fox's NFL broadcasts in addition to his role with the UFL – is hopeful the NFL will eventually consider adopting a similar look under the hood during its broadcasts.

"I think it's something the NFL has to continue to look at," Blandino said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UFL introduces 4-point field goal among rules changes for 2026

Gunner Rivers, the son of eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers, has committed to play for NC State. Rivers is a junior at Fairhope's St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, where his father is head coach. Gunnerannounced his decision Monday on Instagram.

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback, Rivers is a four-star prospect and represents one of NC State's biggest recruiting wins in years.Per Rivals, he's the No. 12 quarterback in his class. He'll play for the same program with which his father made his name.

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Philip Rivers played at NC State from 2000-03. He was named ACC Player of the Year as a senior, and his 13,484 passing yards arethe most in conference history. He went on to play 17 NFL seasons, most of them with the Chargers. He then returned to the NFL in Decemberfor a three-game stint with the Indianapolis Coltsat 44 years old, four years removed from his initial retirement from football.

Now his son will carry on his legacy in Raleigh. Gunner Rivers has one season remaining in high school and is scheduled to join the Wolfpack in 2027.

So far,Rivers is the highest-rated memberand the only four-star commitment in a four-man NC State Class of 2027. NC State secured one four-star commitment inits 46th-ranked Class of 2026from wide receiverAmiri Acker.

Per Rivals, Rivers turned down offers from Auburn, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina, Missouri and Boston College to join NC State.