Jessie Holmes wins Iditarod, surviving brutal cold for back-to-back titles

Jessie Holmes refers to the Alaskan Huskies that pull his sled across ice and snow and through howling winds as "Team Can't Stop.''

It's hard to argue with the nickname.

Holmes and his sled dogs won the Iditarod on Tuesday, March 17 for the second year in a row, Holmes becoming only the sixth dog musher to achieve the feat in the 54-year history of the grueling race in Alaska. He is the first to win back-to-back titles since 2016, when Dallas Seavey won his third straight Iditarod.

The mushers competed for a purse of $650,000, with Holmes earning $80,000.

With Holmes at the helm of the sled, "Team Can't Stop'' completed the 1,000-mile Iditarod trail in 9 days, 7 hours, 32 minutes and 51 seconds, with 12 dogs in harness, according to Iditarod.com.

It was challenging conditions. Temperatures plunged as low as 40 degrees below zero and winds gusted as high as 50 mph during portions of a race that started in Willow and ended in Nome, according to Iditarod.com, the official website of the race, and other published reports.

More:Iditarod dog, 4-year-old Charley, dies during 2026 race, officials say

"We've been enduring wind this whole race,'' Holmes said in an interview with KTUU Channel 2 TV as his sled dogs rested before the final run of the race. "We thrive in it. So if there's a challenge, come the weather, we're just going to push through it, seal the deal.''

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Seal it, they did — with attrition.

Heading into the final run, Holmes said his team of 16 dogs (the maximum) was down to 12 dogs in harness. Each year, dozens of dogs are dropped from the race for exhaustion, injury or illness.

Though not as treacherous as the annual sled dog race, Holmes, 43, navigated an unusual path to Iditarod glory.

He was raised in Alabama and left home at 18. He spent three years as a carpenter in Montana, then he headed for Alaska and eventually discovered sled dog racing.

In 2018, Holmes was Iditarod Rookie of the Year when he finished seventh. He became a fixture among the annual mushers and climbed the ranks. In 2022, he finished third, followed up by a fifth-place finish in 2023 and a third-place finish in 2024.

He and "Team Can't Stop'' prevailed in 2025, finishing the race in 10 days, 14 hours and 55 minutes, about three hours ahead of runner-up Matt Hall.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Iditarod results: Jessie Holmes wins 54th event, back-to-back titles

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March 18, 2026

Jessie Holmes wins Iditarod, surviving brutal cold for back-to-back titles

Jessie Holmes refers to the Alaskan Huskies that pull his sled across ice and snow and through howling winds as "Tea...

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Venezuela’s tears of joy: Why the team that cared the most won the World Baseball Classic

It doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things that Team USA — the United States ofAmerica,as in the birthplace of baseball and the home to the highest-caliber league on the planet — lost one game against Team Venezuela.

Except to the Venezuelan players and their fans, to whom it means everything. And, after two weeks of some of the most joyous and exuberant baseball that any March has ever seen, that is the beautiful thing about the World Baseball Classic.

When Bryce Harper – with his distinct brand of humorless flamboyance – broke a 12-inning scoreless streak for Team USA with a game-tying, two-out, 432-foot home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, it was the sort of storybook sports moment that makes big games worth staying up late for. It gave American fans and Phillies fans and baseball fans who were promised a power-packed lineup something to leap up off their couches and cheer about.

It also set up an even more dramatic ninth-inning victory for the Venezuelans. When Eugenio Suárez drove in the go-ahead run, it was a moment that mattered more toan entire nation than sports should have to.

It gave the sold-out stadium something to party about, because even here in America, the crowd at loanDepot Park in Miami was overwhelmingly full of Venezuelan fans. For those back home, it was a moment of catharsis for a nation that has been racked by political upheaval, economic uncertainty, isolation on the world stage and increasing emigration to other nations in the Western Hemisphere.

That was surely part of MLB's calculus in deciding to host the latter rounds of the WBC in South Florida, where the heavily Latino population showed up to support Team Venezuela and, through their semifinal elimination, Team Dominican Republic. This is for them. And for the fans in Japan, where practically the entire country tuned in to see some part of Samurai Japan's run to the championship three years ago. And for the small contingent of baseball fans eager to grow the game in Italy andthe new Italian fansthis year's team attracted.

In previous iterations, when Team USA was clearly not as competitive as it could have been given the domestic talent that exists in Major League Baseball, it was not terribly difficult to understand why foreign-born players were more motivated to participate. American players return to their hometowns – or at least the closest major-league city – regularly. They leave extra tickets for family and friends and perhaps the broadcast highlights their local connection.

International players leave behind those familiar people and places to be part of MLB. They travel thousands of miles away from those support systems to give themselves the greatest opportunity, and also to give the game the best possible competition. The WBC doesn't necessarily bring them home, but it connects them to their heritage.

This year, the Americans were more formidable. The roster looked like they might steamroll the whole tournament.

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They didn't, because baseball doesn't always behave like you expect it to in small sample sizes. Take Aaron Judge for example. The American captain was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the championship game, and yet he remains arguably the best hitter anyone alive today has ever seen. Every baseball fan in the world should want him to suit up for the next WBC.

In truth, the USA didn't lose because the team was over confident. Or because of their bloviating military cosplay. Or because, by the end, they started to seem like joyless bad guys in a tournament full of teams having fun playing a kid's game. They lost because they batted a collective .156 with 24 strikeouts over the final two games.

And because Team Venezuela was talented, too.

What will surely be a WBC-record setting audience tuned in to see Team USA's offense choke in the championship game. As the tournament built up momentum over the past two weeks, a line of discourse emerged pitting the WBC against the World Series — which is "better," which would mean more to win?

There have been 121 World Series in baseball history. This was the sixth WBC. It's crazy that they're comparable. But to watch Team Venezuela descend into tearful revelry after the final out is to believe that they are.

MLB can, and should, thank international players and fanbases for giving the tournament such instant legitimacy. It's only because they care as much as they do – and, perhaps, this year, the Venezuelans most of all – that the WBC was so competitive.

By caring so much, Team Venezuela made the American team better. And then they beat them.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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byNeo

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March 18, 2026

Venezuela’s tears of joy: Why the team that cared the most won the World Baseball Classic

It doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things that Team USA — the United States ofAmerica,as in the birthpla...

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WNBA and players union have aligned on key elements for a new collective bargaining agreement

NEW YORK (AP) — TheWNBAand its players' union have reached a verbal agreement on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning.

The deal is expected to greatly increase player salaries with a good chance for million dollar players — a first for the league entering its 30th season that will start on time.

"I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we'll share additional details as they become available."

Specifics still need to be finalized over the next few weeks as lawyers on both sides work on the new CBA. A term sheet should be done in the next day or two. It will then need to be voted on by the players and the league's Board of Governors.

The deal came after the two sides spent the past eight days in intense in-person negotiations that lasted for more than 100 hours. They came to the agreement at about 2:23 a.m. Wednesday after spending more than 10 hours negotiating on Tuesday.

"This is historical for women's sports. I told Cathy it's not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren't already here," union president Nneka Ogwumike said. "We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We're proud of ourselves."

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The deal comes 17 months after the players opted out of their previous agreement and five months after the previous deal was initially set to expire, with talks often becoming contentious.

Revenue sharing has been the biggest hurdle over the course of the negotiations and now that a deal is finally done there's a really good chance that there will be a million dollar player.

Now, the league will have a sprint over the next two months to get the season started on time. An expansion draft for new teams in Toronto and Portland needs to take place. Also, teams will need to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents this offseason.

Training camps would open in late April, and the season would begin on May 8.

AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

byNeo

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March 18, 2026

WNBA and players union have aligned on key elements for a new collective bargaining agreement

NEW YORK (AP) — TheWNBAand its players' union have reached a verbal agreement on a transformational new collective ba...

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Man arrested after climbing into pygmy hippo Moo Deng's enclosure at Thai zoo

BANGKOK (AP) — A man has been arrested after he was caught climbing into an enclosure ofMoo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo who became asocial media sensation, zoo officials said.

The Thai man allegedly entered the enclosure on Tuesday evening while a keeper was away and no other visitors were around, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo's Director Narongwit Chodchoy told The Associated Press.

Security footage widely shared online shows a man wearing a black beanie, sunglasses, a green tank top, and brown shorts approaching Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet, apparently recording or taking photos.

The man remained inside the enclosure for a minute or two before staff noticed him, Narongwit said, adding that he did not attempt to flee while the zoo called for police.

Moo Deng soared to stardom shortly after she was born in 2024, largely thanks to a keeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media. Since then,she has drawn large crowdsfrom Thailand and abroad who want to witness her charm in person and shoot photos and videos of her cute moments for themselves.

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Police have initially charged the man with trespassing, but investigation is still ongoing and Narongwit said the zoo intends to pursue all available legal action. Police did not identify the suspect.

The man has now been released on bail, Narongwit said. He said Moo Deng and Jona were safe as the man did not try to touch them.

In a statement posted Tuesday on the zoo's official Facebook page, it said both animals appeared slightly startled by the encounter and would be monitored closely by a veterinarian.

The zoo also urged visitors to "strictly follow all rules and instructions from staff for the safety of both themselves and the wildlife."

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, which is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bangkok, sits on 800 hectares (almost 2,000 acres) of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals.

byNeo

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March 18, 2026

Man arrested after climbing into pygmy hippo Moo Deng's enclosure at Thai zoo

BANGKOK (AP) — A man has been arrested after he was caught climbing into an enclosure ofMoo Deng, the adorable pygmy hipp...

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Kenya's capital experiments with giving workers menstrual leave

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — It started with a casual lunch conversation between a county governor and his cabinet ministers about a colleague's menstrual pain. The discussion led to a first in Kenya: The right for female employees to take menstrual leave.

Kenya Menstrual Leave

The new policy took effect in December 2025. It grants county government employees in the capital, Nairobi, two days off every month to deal with the pain and discomfort of menstruation, with the aim of improving productivity and well-being.

Governor Johnson Sakaja told The Associated Press that Kenya's national government has expressed interest in how it goes, and other county governors have as well.

"Your biggest asset is your staff," said Sakaja, who shepherded the new practice and oversees a government where more than half of the 18,000 employees are women. "It starts with dignifying your own staff, for them to feel that they're respected and dignified."

Women in leading roles

There has been little public objection. Critics have said the policy could discourage employers from hiring more women, but Sakaja disagreed, saying he believes that women perform better than men when they are supported.

Women currently lead the Nairobi county government's business and health portfolios.

"A lot of labor policies were written many years ago by men," the governor said. "Women's rights are not anti-productivity. They are an input that creates productivity. It's actually an investment in your workforce."

He said there would be no financial impact, as the county has more than one person for each role.

"It will not be a train smash if three or four people in a department are not there for a day or two," he said.

Japan was the first

Japan adopted a menstrual leave policy in 1947. The latest was Spain in 2023. Other countries include Indonesia and South Korea.

In Africa, only Zambia has nationwide menstrual leave policy. It allows female workers to take one day per month without having to provide a note from a health care provider.

Advocates say such policies recognize menstruation as a legitimate workplace health issue.

"The feedback we have gotten, especially from the staff that work in public service management, is that it's very refreshing. And when they come back, they are able to work even better," said Nairobi County Human Resource Manager Janet Opiata.

At least 12 women from her department, including a senior director, benefited from the leave in February, Opiata said.

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The policy is a "no-questions-asked, no-forms-filled" arrangement and offers paid leave alongside the usual sick and annual paid leave enshrined in labor law. Nairobi has implemented the policy using a cabinet decree and an internal memo from the human resource office.

Stigma remains a barrier

Marion Kapuya, a 25-year-old revenue officer with the county, said the policy has already made a difference.

"Working with pain or discomfort can lead to mistakes or low productivity," she said. "When you take the break and you are relieved from the pain, your performance will be top-notch."

She added that stigma remains a significant barrier in many workplaces.

"Before I get to a point of saying, 'Excuse me, sir, I am on my period and I don't feel okay,' it is so hard," she said.

The Nairobi county governor said he received feedback that even with the policy, it could be embarrassing telling a manager that days off were for menstrual leave.

A Nairobi private-sector worker, Christine Akinyi, called two days a great start but said it should be increased to four days. She also expressed concern, however.

"People will prefer to employ more men because they don't have these sick leaves," she said.

Vomiting or severe headaches

A Nairobi-based gynecologist, Eunice Cheserem, said severe menstrual pain is common in 50% of the women she sees at her clinic. Kenya does not have national data on menstrual pain.

"If a woman gets severe menstrual pain, she actually ceases to be functional. Some will get vomiting, severe headaches, they vomit everything, they have diarrhea, they have very terrible cramps," she said. "Some respond to conventional analgesics, but very many need very, very strong analgesics for them even to be able to function."

Cheserem said the new menstrual leave in Nairobi county offers needed rest and a chance for women to take care of themselves.

For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

byNeo

in

March 18, 2026

Kenya's capital experiments with giving workers menstrual leave

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — It started with a casual lunch conversation between a county governor and his cabinet ministers abo...

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