GREEN MAG

TheCavaliers sent guard Darius Garland to the Clippersin exchange for James Harden. Neither took the court for their new teams.

Jarrett Allen scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Dennis Schroder added 11 points in his Cavaliers debut and Keon Ellis had 6 points in his first game with the Cavaliers, who won for the seventh time in eight games. Schroder and Ellis were acquired from Sacramento in a three-team trade Sunday.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and John Collins added 19 for the Clippers, who lost consecutive games for the first time since a five-game losing streak in December.

Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 10 points and had eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which is 17-5 since Dec. 20, although most of that success was with Harden. The Clippers also were without starting center Ivica Zubac, who was out for the birth of his child.

The Cavaliers shot 51.0% from the floor and went 16 of 41 (39.0%) from 3-point range. The Clippers shot 6 of 28 (21.4%) from 3-point range and had 24 turnovers that the Cavs turned into 47 points.

The Cavaliers raced out to a 20-point lead late in the first quarter, with the Clippers pulling within 46-38 just past the midway point of the second quarter. Cleveland surged to a 62-42 lead at halftime.

The Clippers never threatened from there as the Cavaliers led by at least 20 through much of the third quarter and by 35 in the fourth.

Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. had 7 points in his return after he missed a month with a knee injury.

Cavaliers: At Sacramento on Saturday.

Clippers: At Sacramento on Friday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Ivan Barbashev scored a goal for the fourth straight game, and Cole Reinhardt, Pavel Dorofayev and Alexander Holtz also had goals for the Knights. Mark Stone had a pair of assists.

Akira Schmid made 21 saves, including aspectacular stopon Vancouver's Pierre-Olivier Joseph midway through the second period when he dove across the crease to snag the puck with his glove and preserve a 3-1 lead.

Elias N. Pettersson and Joseph had goals for the Canucks, who have now lost three in a row and six of their last seven games and remain in last place in the NHL. Teddy Blueger had a pair of assists and Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves.

After a scoreless first period, things heated up in the second when the teams combined to score on four straight shots, with all four goals coming in a span of 2:30 and Vegas taking a 3-1 lead.

With two third-period goals, the Golden Knights now have 75 third-period goals this season, the most in the NHL. Eichel has 21 multipoint games this season.

Canucks: At home against Winnipeg on Feb. 25.

Golden Knights: Host Los Angeles on Thursday night.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided byData Skriveand data fromSportradar.

The 40-year-old point guard was traded by theLos Angeles Clippersto theToronto Raptorsas part of a multi-team deal ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline,ESPN reportedon Wednesday, Feb. 4. Paul will go to the Raptors, while forwardOchai Agbajiand a 2032 second-round pick will move from Toronto to theBrooklyn Netsin the transaction.

But the State Farm pitchman might not be there for long, according tomultiplereports. It's still unclear if Paul will actually report to Toronto, be included in another trade or be waived by the Raptors in the coming days. What jersey he'll be wearing for his final NBA game will remain an ongoing subplot.

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Eastern Conference Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (second All-Star selection)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Western Conference Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (12th All-Star selection)

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Giannis, Curry, Doncic highlight 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters

NBA TRADE RUMORS:Anthony Davis shipped to Wizards in stunning deal

Paul signed a one-year, $3.6-million contractto return to the Clippers this past offseason and then later announced this would be his final NBA season.The Clippers then shocked the NBAin December when they sent Paul home in the wee hours of the night in the middle of a road trip as the team struggled early on this season. General Manager Lawrence Frank and coach Tyronn Lue made clear the organization intended to part ways with one of the greatest players in franchise history asreports emerged about friction involving Paul's leadership styleinside the team's locker room.

Paul could be a veteran presence on the bench for an emerging Raptors roster led by multi-faceted forwards Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, which is readying for a postseason run after emerging as one of the pleasant surprises in the Eastern Conference this year. The Raptors would become the eighth NBA team of Paul's decorated career. He was averaging a career-low 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes over 16 games this season with the Clippers.

Agbaji is set to be a restricted free agent this offseason after being selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and will get a chance to prove himself to potential suitors with the rebuildingNets. He was initially traded to the Raptors in 2024 and saw his playing time drop significantly this season.

Chris Paul trade details

• Raptors get: Chris Paul

• Nets get: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 second-round pick (Toronto), cash

• Clippers get: Extra roster spot, salary cap/luxury tax savings

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA trade deadline: Clippers send Chris Paul to Raptors in final season

Election 2026 House Illinois

The son of the civil rights icon tries to bring it up first: A 2013 campaign fraudconvictionthat ended his 17-year political career.

"It's now part of my story," Jackson told the pastors, elected officials and retirees gathered on a recent Saturday to hear his lofty plan to revive Chicago's sagging south suburbs. "I've cried enough. I'm divorced now. I've lost my home in foreclosure. I've been through everything that comes with that process."

At 60, Jackson has launched a spirited primary bid in the largely Black district where he started his career, saying his new perspective makes him an ideal candidate at a time when voters have accepteda presidentand others with serious criminal histories. The theme of redemption is woven through his return in the firmly Democratic territory with stories about incarceration, sparse job prospects and caring for his ailing dad, theRev. Jesse Jackson.

But the efforts to reclaim the name belonging to one of the nation's most famous political families haven't been without eyerolls and jabs from candidates in the crowded March primary who say Jackson had his chance in a district plagued by politicalcorruption.

"What I think matters is that trust has to be earned," Jackson told The Associated Press while campaigning recently. "I'm cognizant of that."

The reverend's son energizes crowds

The eldest son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson now sports thick circular glasses and graying hair. He remains a skilled orator in the style of his father, a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate. Another son,Jonathan, is also a Chicago-area congressman.

Sounding at times like a preacher and others a professor, Jackson Jr. paces among poster boards outlining his vision for a third Chicago airport. The proposedpublic-private partnershipto boost economically depressed areas outside Chicago hasn't seen traction for years.

But that's not evident from how Jackson describes it.

Nearly 50 people filed into a suburban school gym to hear how a hypothetical airport might someday compete with O'Hare and Midway.

"The one thing that is missing from this congressional district is access to the global economy," Jackson said, describing daily flights to Hong Kong.

The extemporaneous talk included Biblical references and warm shoutouts to locals in the audience. Attendees were handed thick packets documenting nearly $1 billion in federal funds Jackson secured over the years. Around the room was church-style signage with Jackson's portraits under the slogan "A New Hope."

David Jones, 52, praised Jackson's "tenacity" and "fortitude." The Flossmoor resident voted for Jackson before and will again. He felt the former congressman had been humbled by the prison sentence.

"Would it sway certain people? Probably," he said. "But at the same time, to his point, we have a president that had 34 convictions and he's still president of the United States. So if it didn't sway people from voting in that regard why should it sway you from voting for him?"

Soon, the crowd was chanting for a 10,000-foot airport runway, with Jackson directing the recitation like a conductor.

Attendees lined up for blue-and-white yard signs. The most popular has one word: "Jr."

A promising start, a rocky end

Jackson was first elected in a 1995 special election. He easily won each reelection, despite a 2009ethics inquiryrelated to formerIllinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Jackson wasn't charged.

However, in 2012Jacksondisappeared from the public eye, even missing his reelection night. He later disclosedtreatment for bipolar disorderat the Mayo Clinic. He resigned in November amid a federal investigation.

The next year Jackson pleaded guilty to charges he engaged in a scheme to spend $750,000 in campaign funds on luxury items including Bruce Lee memorabilia. His then-wife, former Chicago Alderwoman Sandi Jackson, also pleaded guilty.

Heserved30 months.

Jackson's time behind bars was isolating. He said he used the time to learn from inmates and write his third book. While incarcerated, relatives waited to disclose his father's diagnosis with a neurological disorder.

"He didn't think emotionally that I could handle it," Jackson said of his father.

After his release, Jacksonstruggledpersonally and financially.

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His marriage of 37 years ended. Attorneys in his2018 divorcedisclosed he received Social Security Disability Insurance payments due to extended medical leave from Congress.

Finding work was hard. One university rescinded a job offer over his conviction.

"I could not survive the evil of the Google search," he joked.

Fundraising struggles and messaging

Early voting starts Thursday for the March 17 primary.

The 2nd District seat is open because Rep. Robin Kelly is running for Senate followingDick Durbin's retirement. The territory encompasses city neighborhoods, working-class suburbs and some rural areas.

Ten Democrats are in, including Donna Miller, a county commissioner who leads fundraising. She brought in about $1 million in the last quarter and has that much on hand. Meanwhile, Jackson raised about $100,000 and has roughly equal to spend.

Jackson said fundraising in the district has always been tough. He sees a path to victory in part by registering new voters; he said his campaign has signed up roughly 2,000. He's also reaching disenfranchised voters, including Black men who "abandoned" the party.

Jackson says he relates more to voters now.

He often starts events by asking who has been imprisoned or knows someone in jail. The show of hands is usually strong. He's opened up about managing mental health, crediting his physician, tight social circle and martial arts.

When his father took a turn with a November hospitalization, Jackson wrote about elderly parent care for USA Today. The reverend has progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative disorder. He communicates through hand gestures as he's lost the ability to speak.

Jackson listened to his dad's speeches before making his run official on his father's 84th birthday in October.

"I get very emotional knowing that those speeches belong to the ages now," he said.

Critics say district needs fresh start

Political opponents seize on Jackson's high-profile and comfortable upbringing.

State Sen. Willie Preston likes to highlight Jackson's fashion choices with Ferragamo shoes as evidence of someone who hasn't reformed spending habits.

"When you have had such a lifestyle of luxury and celebrity because you threw that away, then I'd imagine you'd want to get that back," Preston said.

Jackson shrugged at the criticism. When it comes to footwear: "I wear shoes that fit my feet."

Others say the district needs change.

Before Jackson, two congressmen left office under allegations of misconduct, includingMel Reynolds, who was convicted of fraud and criminal sexual assault charges.

"We're ready for new chapter," said candidate Yumeka Brown, Matteson's village clerk. "Voters have a right to expect honesty, accountability."

Voters see familiarity and change

Listening to the former congressman, 71-year-old Warren Cottrell heard the reverend's voice.

"He sounds just as eloquent as his father," said the retiree from Homewood. "I believe in second chances."

Jackson says it's a second chance for him with his children too. He consulted both about running: daughter Jessica, who lives in France and son Jesse III, who's in college.

"It's important for them to see their father stand up and fight for the dignity of their name," he said.

The effort to get a snapshot of kindergarten readiness is part ofthe National Survey of Children's Health, and that metric has been reported each year since 2022. Thousands of parents and guardians submitted answers about their child in five categories — early learning, motor skills, social-emotional development, self-regulation and health — with the goal of answering the big question: Is your child ready for school?

While there'sgrowing interest in assessing school readiness, education experts differ on what to measure and how. And some dispute whether children should be ready for school or if schools should be ready for their students.

Despite the complexities, it's indisputable that what a young child learns before they enter classrooms can set the course for the rest of their academic career.

What is kindergarten readiness?

Kindergarten readiness encompassesthe foundational skillsnecessary to engage in a more formal learning environment, said Ohio State University educational psychology professor Laura Justice. In some ways, it's very similar to the expectations for a college graduate to be successful in their first job, she said.

There isn't a universal definition of kindergarten readiness, but many experts and educators rely on guidance from the bipartisan National Education Goals Panel'sfive developmental domainscritical to a child's success upon entering grade school. The criteria emphasize a child's health and motor skills, social-emotional development, cognition, language development and general attitude toward learning — a very similar framework as the federal survey.

But school readiness is a relatively new concept, as the panel's guidelines came in the 1990s. Historically, there weren't many expectations for children entering kindergarten, although some students — typically from wealthier families — would come in with more advanced skills than others, said Robert Crosnoe, a sociology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. That meant providingenriching learning opportunitiesbefore children set foot in a kindergarten classroom – so they could learn not only their ABCs, but also skills such as carrying on a conversation and problem-solving during playtime.

"If we just focus on those strictly academic things, it's only going to get us so far," Crosnoe said.

Is your child ready for kindergarten? The answer is complex

There are a few ways tomeasure readiness, but each method has its drawbacks, said Jill Cannon, a senior policy researcher at global policy think tank RAND.

Parents can answer questions about their child — such as in the NSCH survey — but can be biased or misinterpret questions, especially if English isn't their first language. Teachers can assess children instead, but interpretations of a child's behavior can depend on which teacher is doing the assessment.

Alternatively, a young child can be directly assessed on certain skills. But that approach can be "hit or miss," according to Cannon, because a child that young may perform differently on any given day.

When to measure readiness can also be a factor.

A child's age when they enter kindergarten — typically at age 5 — can also factor into readiness, as children who are several months older are often in the same class as students who just turned 5, Cannon said.

"Six months now to me means nothing, but back then … I had a lot of learning to do. I grew a lot," Cannon said. "These kids, they grow a lot over the kindergarten year."

If your child is scheduled for a kindergarten readiness assessment, don't worry. Most experts agree that readiness tests are, overall, a crucial tool for educators – but only to identify what supports kids will need.

"We have an arsenal of interventions that can improve these skills in kids," Justice said. "So the screening instrument can help us identify where the need is so that we can respond."

How to boost kindergarten readiness

Research suggests that attending ahigh-quality preschool programis one of the best ways to boost kindergarten readiness.

However, preschool curricula vary vastly across the U.S., with some prioritizing certain development areas, such as literacy, over others. And the quality of preschool can vary drastically depending on where someone lives, making that goal a lot easier said than done.

But some measures of quality are universal. Many early childhood education experts rely on the National Institute for Early Education Research's10 quality benchmarksto make broad assessments in all states that offer public preschool programs.

Parents can use the standards as a guide for choosing a preschool that's most likely to help prepare their child for the next step. The standards include requiring pre-K teachers to hold bachelor's degrees, keeping class sizes at 20 children or fewer, implementing professional development for staff and offering health screenings and referrals. In 2024, 13 states met five or fewer of NIEER's standards, while just five states met all 10 benchmarks.

At home, parents can take many steps to prepare their child for kindergarten, too.

You can read to your child every day to boost their early literacy skills. Giving your child small responsibilities around the housedevelops their independenceand gets them acclimated to tasks that may be expected of them in kindergarten. And coaching your child to name their emotions can strengthen those social-emotional and self-regulation skills that are integral to building positive relationships with classmates and teachers.

Data journalist Todd Feathers contributed reporting.

The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, alistof supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.