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Vote for Journal Star girls athlete of the week for April 27-May 2, presented by CEFCU

After plenty of solid spring sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star high school girls athlete of the week nominees for April 27-May 2, presented by CEFCU.

Head towww.pjstar.com/sportsto vote. The poll closes at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below.

If you have a nominee for the honor, email us atsports@pjstar.comor tag us onX @pjstarsports. Last week,Jaeleigh Decker of the Pekin softball teamwas voted the Journal Star high school girls athlete of the week for April 20-25, presented by CEFCU.

Brianna Johnson, Richwoods track

Richwoods’ Brianna Johnson, right, outsprints teammate Jaydah Green for a victory in the 100-meter dash during the Peoria All-City Track and Field Meet on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at Peoria Stadium. Johnson won with a time of 12.49 while Green finished at 12.70.

The senior helped the Knights win the Peoria All-City girls track meet championship on Wednesday, April 29. She won the 100 in 12.49, edging teammate Jaydah Green. Johnson finished second in the 200 to Green in 26.33, then finished second to Green in the 400 in 1:00.43. Johnson led off the Knights' 4x100 relay winner in 50.15.

Jaydah Green, Richwoods track

Richwoods’ Jaydah Green smiles after running the anchor leg for the winning 4X100-meter relay team during the Peoria All-City Track and Field Meet on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at Peoria Stadium.

The senior finished second in the 100 to teammate Brianna Johnson in 12.70, a personal best. Green won the 200 in a personal-best 26.33, edging Johnson. Green won the 400 in 59.88, edging runner-up Johnson. And Green anchored Richwoods' 4x100 relay winner in 50.15.

Kylea Seidell, Pekin softball

The Dragons senior hit three home runs to lead Pekin softball to a 16-7 win over Lincoln on April 29. She had seven RBIs on a three-run homer in the first inning, solo shot in the fifth and another three-run homer in the sixth. She hit .417 with three homers and eight RBIs in three games for the week.

Rylee Dare, Eureka softball

The junior pitcher threw a no-hitter in a 15-0 win over Fieldcrest on April 29. She worked four innings, walked two, struck out eight and also contributed a pair of doubles at the plate. She took a 14-game hitting streak into this week.

Addie McClure, Morton soccer

The senior forward notched a hat trick in a 9-0 win over East Peoria on Tuesday, April 28. The Potters took a 15-1-1 record into this week.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star senior writer and sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star:Vote for high school girls athlete of the week for April 27-May 2

byMario Satorik

in

May 05, 2026

Vote for Journal Star girls athlete of the week for April 27-May 2, presented by CEFCU

After plenty of solid spring sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star high school girls athlete of the week nomi...

Anonymous Donor Gives $3 Million to Sustain Arkansas Public Television — but It Comes with a Catch

Arkansas PBS rebranded as Arkansas TV after losing $2.5 million in federal funding

NEED TO KNOW

Viewers and donors pushed back against the changes, resulting in a vote to delay the split
An anonymous $3 million pledge requires matching donations to help restore funding and maintain PBS content in Arkansas

An anonymous donor pledged $3 million to keep public television alive in Arkansas, but it comes with a catch.

Following the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting earlier this year, the state of Arkansas was the first in the country to vote to split up the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Former state legislator Carlton Wing became the executive director at Arkansas PBS in September 2025, noting that the loss of roughly $2.5 million in federal support made them adjust plans.

A joint budget subcommittee gathered on April 22.Credit: Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

He rebranded it to Arkansas TV, leaving PBS behind.

“It's been a tough mission here of late,” Wing said, according to ABC affiliateKATV. “The federal funding cuts changed the entire landscape of public television.”

However, the viewers and donors didn't go quietly. They wanted PBS' programs instead of more locally focused entertainment.

“I love Craig O'Neal, but he is not Ken Burns. I don't think trading Craig O'Neal forKen Burnsis what we need to do. 49 other states figured it out, we've got money in the state, and I think we need to do the same thing," supporter Lisa Handley said. O'Neal is the host of an Arkansas TV show, per the outlet.

The Arkansas Television Commission ultimately voted 4-1 on March 12 to delay the split for 180 days, providing more time to secure funding.

Arkansas TV Foundation CEO Marge Betley stated that they lost 3,738 donors over the past few months, according to theArkansas Advocate.

“We had a lot of donors walk away because what they were hoping to pay for with their donations was PBS,” Senator Clarke Tucker said. “What this does is it creates an incentive and a mechanism for those donors to come back to the table.”

The anonymous donor's pledge stated that others should also contribute to save PBS.

On Wednesday, April 22, Senate Bill 77 was advanced by lawmakers. The bill allows up to $550,000 in private donations to be matched by Arkansas' public television network.

“There was a bad audit that some legislators had concerns about. I think those financial issues have been worked out," Tucker said, per KATV.

The $3 million donation would arrive in $1 million increments for three years.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Senator Jonathan Dismang said, “It just ensures that there's buy-in from the public and that we're able to make sure we have the funding needed.”

Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik

in

May 05, 2026

Anonymous Donor Gives $3 Million to Sustain Arkansas Public Television — but It Comes with a Catch

Arkansas PBS rebranded as Arkansas TV after losing $2.5 million in federal funding NEED TO KNOW Viewers and donors...

How Ana Navarro is working around getting bleeped on 'The View'

NEW YORK –Ana Navarrois ready to tape her new podcast anytime, anywhere.

TheCNNcontributor andABC "The View"cohost, 54, launched"Bleep! with Ana Navarro"earlier this year. While on Easter break in Costa Rica on April 9,First Lady Melania Trumpissued a statement at the White House in which she deniedhaving any involvementwith convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Navarro, armed with mobile recording equipment, hopped into action. And while the timing of the Trump's press conference befuddled some, Navarro believes that there was clearly a plan in place.

"She obviously didn't write that stuff herself, right?" she tells USA TODAY. "It was full of legalese. So yes, I think she got advice. I think she got help. But because of that, I've now done a couple of breaking news episodes of the podcast from a portable thing I have."

When Ana Navarro stopped by USA TODAY's New York studio, she brought along a very special guest: her pet dog Cha-Cha.

Navarro, anoutspoken criticof the Trump administration, teamed up with iHeartMedia and Hyphenate Media Group for her new podcast. Hyphenate was launched by actressEva Longoriaand media executive Cris Abrego. Longoria also serves as an executive producer of Navarro's podcast.

"There are not that many Latino voices breaking down news," Navarro says about why she continues to lean in to these news cycles. "One of the things that most touches me is anytime I'm in the supermarket or I'm at the airport and some young Latina comes up to me and tells me how much it means for them to have somebody like me speaking up on behalf of our community.

"It's like a privilege and a duty."

'The View' inspired Ana Navarro's new podcast

The title of Navarro's podcast is a playful jab at her other her day job.

"The problem is that I get bleeped at'The View,'"she explains. "Sometimes I try to say things in Spanish. So now (ABC is) to the point where if I say 'queso,' they will bleep me out because they don't know what I'm saying and they're nervous."

She will not be censored on her own show.

Navarro's goal with the podcast is to both interview interesting subjects and break down news items without the typical restrictions of cable or broadcast TV, where a cohost or panelist may only get a fraction of a 7 minute segment to speak.

But she still enjoys her work on TV, despite the occasionally "bleep" and her commute between New York and Miami. Navarro believes authenticity is the key to any successful show and is one of the reason why "The View" has lasted on ABC for almost 29 years.

"It's women from different backgrounds, different generations, different races, ethnicities, different takes on life, giving their opinions," she explains. Cohosts on the view range from age 36 (former White House strategic communications directorAlyssa Farah Griffin) to 83 (actress-comedianJoy Behar).

Navarro also credits the team behind the cameras, whom she calls "an entire family." She says some have worked there since the show's launch with Barbara Walters in 1997. "They run like a fine tuned Swiss watch and they keep the shows going."

Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.